ENGLISH
REFERENCE

grow into

phr. v..
B1 Intermediate Oxford

phr. v.. to become big enough to fit into a piece of clothing that was too large before; it also means to become more confident or skilled in a new role.

phr. v.. to reach a physical size sufficient to fit a garment; figuratively, to develop the necessary skills, confidence, or maturity to fulfill a specific role or position.


SIMPLE

The jacket is big now, but he will grow into it soon.

CONTEXTUAL

It took a few months, but she eventually began to grow into her new role as team leader.

COMPLEX

While the initial responsibilities seemed overwhelming, the young executive managed to grow into the position, eventually spearheading the company's most successful merger.

Particles
into
Separability
inseparable
Pattern
grow + into + object
Usage

inseparable phrasal verb; the object is usually a piece of clothing or a professional role/title.

Teaching tip

highlight the transition from the literal physical sense (clothes) to the metaphorical professional sense (jobs) to help students internalize the concept of gradual development.

Pitfall

He grew the suit into.He grew into the suit.this phrasal verb is inseparable; the object must follow the particle 'into'.

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