grow (redirected from growingly)

Absence makes the heart grow fonder.

something that you say which means being apart from someone that you love makes you love them even more. 'My boyfriend's going to South America and I won't see him for six months.' 'Ah well, absence makes the heart grow fonder.'

See also: absence, heart

be like watching grass grow (humorous, humorous)

if you say that watching an activity is like watching grass grow, you mean that it is very boring. To watch somebody fly-fishing is like watching grass grow.

See also: grass, like, watch

Great/Mighty oaks from little acorns grow.

something that you say in order to emphasize that a large, successful organization or plan was very small or simple when it began. Microsoft, which is now the biggest independent software company in the world, was founded in 1975 by just two men. It goes to show that great oaks from little acorns grow.

See also: from, great, little, mighty

grow like Topsy

to grow very fast. The government must decide how to allocate health-care resources in the face of demand that is growing like Topsy.

See also: like

growing pains

the problems or difficulties of a new organization or activity. Even highly successful businesses will have experienced growing pains in the early days.

See also: pain

not let the grass grow under your feet

to not waste time by delaying doing something. We can't let the grass grow under our feet - we've really got to get going with this project.

See also: feet, grass, let

Money doesn't grow on trees.

something that you say which means you should be careful how much money you spend because there is only a limited amount. 'Dad, can I have a new bike?' 'We can't afford one. Money doesn't grow on trees, you know.'

See also: doesn't, money, tree

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grow by leaps and bounds

to become larger quickly. Since we had that good rain, my tomatoes have grown by leaps and bounds. That boy has grown by leaps and bounds this year.

See also: bound, leap

grow on you

to become increasingly liked or appreciated by you. At first the show seemed kind of weird, but it grew on us.

grow out of something

1. to become too old to be interested in something. Vinnie did a lot of stupid stuff in high school, but I always thought he'd grow out of it.

2. to develop from something. His book grew out of a trip to South America as a member of a government commission.

Etymology: based on the literal meaning of grow out of your clothes (= to become too big to fit into your clothes)

grow up

to stop behaving like a child. Kayo says we ought to grow up and stop complaining.

Usage notes: often used as an order: Why were you guys wildly celebrating after scoring one goal? Grow up.

come of age

Etymology: based on the literal meaning of grow up (= to change from being a child to being an adult)