grow (up)on (one)
"Upon" is more formal than "on."
1. To become more liked and appreciated by one. I didn't like her bubbly new assistant at first, but she grew on me in time. The novel was very tedious at the beginning, but it has grown upon me the more that I've read of it. A: "I know it's a weird premise for a show, but it grows on you, doesn't it?" B: "Yes! I can't believe I binged the whole first season in one weekend!"
2. Of a feeling or emotion, to become more intense within one by gradual degrees. Unease grew upon me as we stepped into the dilapidated old house. The anger and indignation of the rejection grew on me as I drove home. Anxiety grew upon me until I was able to give my presentation and get that over with.
grow a set (of balls)
rude slang To start acting in a strong, confident, or courageous manner, especially after having previously failed to do so. Though "balls" is a slang term for testicles, the phrase is not exclusively applied to males. Often used as an imperative. You need to grow a set of balls and ask your boss for a raise already! Janet, I know you're nervous about asking Tom out on a date, but just grow a set and give it a shot! Dude needs to grow a set—a bug buzzed by, and he practically jumped out of his skin!
grow a spine
To become confident or courageous; to be emboldened. Typically used as an imperative. You need to grow a spine. You can't just bow to your boss's demands every time! How many times are you gonna let this loser cheat on you? Grow a spine and dump him already! Wow, I'm glad to see Rachel grow a spine and ask for the raise she deserves!
grow accustomed to (someone or something)
To come to be familiar or comfortable with someone or something. Now that she is no longer in school, Stella has grown accustomed to staying up late and sleeping until noon. I didn't really fit in when I moved to the tiny rural town in Vietnam, but over time the people there grew accustomed to me. I never thought I would grow so accustomed to this dusty old warehouse, but I almost enjoy being here now.
grow all out of proportion
To become larger in size or in scale than is correct or appropriate (in relation to something else). The price of property in this city started growing all out of proportion to the population size years ago. The public backlash to this issue has grown all out of proportion, if you ask me, fueled by misinformation from our political opponents. The company's influence on the economy grew all out of proportion, leading it to become too big to fail before long.
grow apart
1. Literally, to grow and move away from something. Wow, those bushes have really grown apart since we bought the place. Well, if these trees had grown apart over the years, we wouldn't be in the situation we're in now, where their limbs have become intertwined. My hope when I planted those two hydrangea bushes was that they would grow toward each other and fill in this whole area. Instead, they've grown apart!
2. To experience a lessening of emotional intimacy in a relationship over time. Of course I still care about Ed—we've just grown apart over the years. We hardly even talk anymore. Plenty of married people realize they've grown apart once their kids go off to college. It takes work to keep a relationship alive. It's all too easy for two people to grow apart.
grow back
To return to a previous length or degree of growth, as after having been cut or trimmed. I know you're not thrilled with your new haircut, but don't worry, it's just hair—it'll grow back. When do you think that part of the bush will grow back? I didn't realize how much it was hiding our ugly porch. I don't know why, but that part of my eyebrow just never grew back after I got my stitches out.
grow by leaps and bounds
To rapidly grow or expand. Our small company has grown by leaps and bounds over the past year, thanks in no small part to our aggressive new marketing campaign. Our puppy has grown by leaps and bounds since we switched to a new brand of dog food. An influx of cash would certainly help our startup to grow by leaps and bounds.
grow cold
1. Literally, to gradually lose heat; to become cold. Tommy, come down to dinner—your food is growing cold! Her feet grew cold from standing out in the snow in high heels. I'm freezing out here, but the kids never seem to grow cold when they're playing in the snow.
2. To wane or diminish; to lessen in strength over time, especially a feeling, sentiment, or interest. We had an intense relationship initially, but lately it seems like his affection has grown cold. This project has dragged on for so long that interest and enthusiasm have, unsurprisingly, grown cold. He didn't break up with her because his feelings had grown cold—he's trying to protect her from his dangerous lifestyle.
grow down
To move downward through or into something over time. Typically said of roots. The roots of that tree better not be growing down into our sewer pipe! The tree's roots must have grown down through the sidewalk—that's why it's cracked here. I'm afraid the roots of these trees have messed with the foundation of the house as they've grown down.
grow from (something)
1. To develop from a particular starting point or thing. Usually said of plants. What do tulips grow from? Bulbs? This plant here grew from a cutting of my mom's. Over the 20 years we've lived here, that hydrangea has grown from a small little thing into the lush bush you see today!
2. To change and mature after having had a particular experience. That break-up was really painful, but I did grow from it—now, I only date people who truly care about me. Successful people learn and grow from their failures. A: "He's still blaming the divorce entirely on his wife?" B: "Yep. He hasn't grown from that experience at all."
grow in
1. To fill something in with growth. Stop plucking your eyebrows and just let them grow in for once. When do you think that part of the bush will grow in? I didn't realize how much it was hiding our ugly porch. I don't know why, but that part of my eyebrow just never grew in after I got my stitches out.
2. To develop some quality or characteristic to a greater degree. You'll grow in knowledge with every college class you take. I know that break-up was really painful, but you certainly grew in resilience, honey. Keep practicing the guitar every day if you want to grow in dexterity.
grow into (something)
1. To develop or mature into something over time. Yes, he's a troublemaker now, but he's just a kid—I'm sure he'll grow into a fine young man. It'll take time for this bulb to grow into a tulip, honey. A: "In two hours, this situation has grown into a full-blown catastrophe?" B: "I'm afraid so. Our phones haven't stopped ringing."
2. To develop a particular aptitude or skill set over time, as to fulfill or excel in a particular role. I think she'll grow into a great camp counselor by the end of the summer. If Lisa's waiting for her loser boyfriend to grow into a mature, responsible partner, she'll be waiting forever. I'm impressed with this crop of interns. They've all grown into fine administrative assistants.
3. To grow and become able to fit into a particular size or item. It'll take some time before you grow into your big sister's clothes. Look at these adorable little sneakers! I know it will take Kyson some time to grow into them, but it'll be worth the wait! A: "What if she doesn't grow into the flower girl dress in time?" B: "Well, we can't buy a dress in her current size—your wedding's a year from now, and she's a growing toddler!"
4. To worsen or intensify. You should really go to the doctor—a sinus infection can grow into something much worse. The more bad news you give me, the more my headache is growing into a migraine. I tried deep breathing exercises so that my anxiety didn't grow into a full-on panic attack.
5. To move into or pervade something in the act of growing. This plant seems to have grown into our gutter. A: "It's like the tree's roots have grown into the sidewalk." B: "Yeah, see how the concrete's lifting here?" The roots of that tree better not be growing into our sewer pipe!
grow like a weed
To grow up very quickly. I can't believe your son has gotten so big! He is truly growing like a weed! Our puppy has grown like a weed and is almost as big as our other dogs now! When you have young grandkids, they grow like weeds and are practically new people every time you visit!
grow like Topsy
To rapidly grow or expand. Our small company has grown like Topsy over the past year, thanks in no small part to our aggressive new marketing campaign. Our puppy has grown like Topsy since we switched to a new brand of dog food. An influx of cash would certainly help our startup to grow like Topsy.
grow on trees
Become available freely or without effort. Typically used in the phrase "money doesn't grow on trees." I can't believe you would spend your entire allowance on a silly video game. Money doesn't grow on trees, you know! My kids ask me to buy every toy in existence, like money grows on trees or something! Be prepared to pay a hefty salary for a talented programmer—they don't grow on trees.
grow out
To become longer in length through the act of growing. Ugh, when will my bangs grow out? They're so short now that it looks ridiculous. When do you think that part of the bush will grow out? I didn't realize how much it was hiding our ugly porch. I know you're not thrilled with your new haircut, but don't worry, it's just hair—it'll grow out in time.
grow out of (something)
1. Literally, to emerge from a particular area or container, as of a plant. I can't believe that flowers are growing out of that rocky soil. The invasive ditch lily will grow out of just about any soil—and choke out other plants that get in its way! My poor flowers can't grow out of the soil that is still frozen in this unseasonably cold spring.
2. To no longer be able to fit into an article of clothing because one has grown taller or gained weight. This phrase is often applied to children. The baby has already grown out of her infant onesies. When your oldest grows out of her clothes, at least her little sister can wear them. I don't have that luxury with an only child. Look at these adorable little sneakers! I can't believe Kyson has already grown out of them.
3. To no longer do something because one has aged or matured. I thought she would have grown out of temper tantrums by now. Oh, Daisy had terrible allergies when she was a kid. Luckily, she seems to have grown out of that, at least to some extent. When we grew out of giving each other the silent treatment and started actually communicating, it saved our relationship.
4. To emerge or develop from something. My novel grew out of a short story I'd written as a kid. Can you believe their fistfight grew out of a tense exchange in the check-out line? They're just friends, huh? Well, many love relationships have grown out of close friendships.
grow out of all proportion
To become far larger in size or in scale than is correct or appropriate (in relation to something else). The price of property in this city started growing out of all proportion to the population size years ago. The public backlash to this issue has grown out of all proportion, if you ask me, fueled by misinformation from our political opponents. The company's influence on the economy grew out of all proportion, leading it to become too big to fail before long.
grow out of proportion
To become larger in size or in scale than is correct or appropriate (in relation to something else). The price of property in this city started growing out of proportion to the population size years ago. The public backlash to this issue has grown out of proportion, if you ask me, fueled by misinformation from our political opponents. The company's influence on the economy grew out of proportion, leading it to become too big to fail before long.
grow over (something)
To extend over something, covering it. Often said of flora. Oh wow, I didn't realize how much the moss had grown over this wall. Look at how the ivy's grown over the trellis. Isn't that charming? Be careful—algae has grown over those rocks, so they're probably slippery.
grow to (do something)
To slowly begin to do something or feel a certain way over time. Ian annoyed me at first, but I really grew to like him as we spent more time together. Every young adult grows to want more freedom from their family—that's just how it is. Grandma grew to hate the cold and eventually moved to Florida.
grow together
(of things) To physically move closer together and connect or intertwine over time. That big bush out front is actually two smaller bushes that grew together. Molly, you have to wear a cast so that your broken bone grows together. I wanted these bushes to fill in and provide privacy. I didn't expect them to grow together in a big, unwieldy mess!
grow up
1. verb To become older and more mature; to progress toward adulthood. When I grow up, I want to be an astronaut. Growing up with three older brothers probably did a lot to shape my personality. I haven't been back to my hometown in years, but it sure was a nice place to grow up.
2. verb To arise or emerge. Protests have grown up all across the nation in response to that incident. Brace yourself—I expect considerable pushback to grow up out of our decision to cut funding. According to many inside the region, resentment has grown up among working-class voters who feel betrayed by the recent legislative change.
3. expression An imperative to be more mature, typically directed at someone exhibiting what the speaker considers to be extremely immature behavior. Oh, grow up and take some responsibility for your actions. Ugh, you guys are so immature! Grow up! Wow, the silent treatment, that's really mature of you. Grow up already and communicate like an adult!
grow up into (something)
To become a particular type of person as one ages and matures. Wow, Julie has really grown up into a very poised young woman. I can't believe she's already 16! His parents spoiled him rotten, so he's grown up into quite the brat. Plenty of my shy, quiet students have grown up into confident leaders.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.