grow out of sth

You are wondering about the meaning of the phrase grow out of sth, maybe you heard it in a TV show, movie or theater play. Although this idiom is not used very often, it enriches your capacity of expression and strengthens communication. In which case is the expression grow out of sth used and what is its meaning?

Meaning of "grow out of sth"

Meaning

The phrase ‘grow out of sth’ is an idiom that is used to refer to the process of outgrowing something, either literaly or figuratively. The phrase is often used in reference to children growing older, out of their clothes or out of behavioral patterns. It is also used to refer to positive changes, such as someone gaining experience, wisdom and perspective over time.

Etymology

The phrase ‘grow out of’ has been used since the 16th century to indicate the process of outgrowing or outliving something. Its earliest uses, according to the Oxford English Dictionary, appear in a 1565 text entitled The Politie of Health. The phrase appears in various forms throughout the centuries and has been included in many dictionaries since the 19th century.

Usage

The phrase ‘grow out of sth’ is used to indicate the process of outgrowing or outliving something. It is often used in reference to children growing older, out of their clothes or out of certain behaviors. It can also be used to refer to positive changes in an individual, such as gaining experience, wisdom and perspective over time. The phrase is usually used in the present progressive tense to indicate something that is ongoing and still happening: “He is growing out of his clothes.”

Example Sentences

• My son is growing out of his clothes faster than I can keep up with.
• She's growing out of her childish habits.
• He's starting to grow out of his rebellious phase.
• She's getting more experienced and wise, she's really growing out of her naivety.

The universal role of idioms

"Kill two birds with one stone" is an English idiom that means to accomplish two things with a single action. In French, the similar idiom is "Faire d'une pierre deux coups," which translates to "To kill two birds with one stone." This idiom highlights the efficiency of completing two tasks with one action.