And it was a gamble." That gamble paid off.

VOA: special.2010.03.29

His years of hard work paid off.

VOA: special.2010.01.13

And that focus has paid off. Demong and Lodwick led a U.S.breakthrough at last year's World Championships in Liberec, the Czech Republic.

VOA: standard.2010.01.31

Apolo Anton Ohno, who still sports his trademark "soul-patch" [of facial hair just above his chin, says his hard work has paid off.

VOA: standard.2010.02.23

Science Po Director Richard Descoings told VOA the school's efforts have paid off.

VOA: standard.2010.02.02

I paid off as much as I could." Zahwe Samouni had little cash left and was unable to find enough construction materials, but she managed to build a two-room cinderblock house.

VOA: standard.2010.01.02