worth one's while

Idioms  

1. Merit one's time or efforts, as in It's hardly worth your while to count the transactions; it can be done by computer . [Late 1600s]

2. make something worth one's while . Compensate one for one's time or efforts, as in If you take care of our yard while we're away, I'll make it worth your while . [Mid-1800s] Both usages employ while in the sense of “a period of time spent.”

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Example Sentences

"Anybody might hear," answered Vera, carelessly, "were it worth one's while to take the trouble of repeating it."

From Vera Nevill Or, Poor Wisdom's Chance by Cameron, H. Lovett, Mrs.

But it is scarcely worth one's while to read six hundred pages of very small print in order to learn this.

From A History of the French Novel, Vol. 1 From the Beginning to 1800 by Saintsbury, George

It would be well worth one's while to visit their Brooklyn Hospital and their New York Hospital and all their other wonderful institutions.

From The War Romance of the Salvation Army by Hill, Grace Livingston

She honestly liked Kesiah, though, in common with the rest of her little world, she had fallen into the habit of regarding her as a person whom it was hardly worth one's while to consider.

From The Miller Of Old Church by Glasgow, Ellen Anderson Gholson

“He believes that it is worth one’s while to pray, at any rate,” said Christie to herself; and all at once it flashed upon her that a part of her prayer had been answered.

From Christie Redfern's Troubles by Lintott, Edward Barnard