grow up on
phrasal verb.phrasal verb. to spend your childhood in a specific place or eating a specific type of food.
phrasal verb. to spend one's formative years in a particular location or subsisting on a specific diet; often used to indicate cultural or environmental background.
I grew up on a farm in the countryside.
Many children in that coastal town grow up on fresh seafood and local vegetables.
Having grown up on the stories of his ancestors, the young author felt a profound connection to the oral traditions of his community.
- be raised on
- live on
- be brought up in
- Particles
- up on
- Separability
- inseparable
- Pattern
- grow + up + on + object
The object is usually a location, a diet, or a specific cultural influence like music or books.
Distinguish between 'grow up in' (general location) and 'grow up on' (specific environment like a farm, or a diet/influence); 'on' implies a source of nourishment or a specific foundation.
He grew up on London.He grew up in London.Use 'in' for cities or countries; use 'on' for specific types of land like farms, islands, or for diets.
Last updated April 24, 2026