grow out of — stop a childish habit
phrasal verbB2IELTS 6+neutralcommon
To stop doing something as you get older, especially a habit or interest that is seen as childish.
Say it like a native
Textbook He eventually ceased his immature behaviour as he matured.
Native He grew out of it eventually.
'Grow out of' naturally means outgrow a phase or habit. The formal version is heavy.
Pattern: grow out of + noun/gerund
In use
- Most children eventually grow out of being afraid of the dark.daily life
- I used to be very shy in social situations, but I grew out of it as I became more confident during university.IELTS speaking
Common mistake
✗ Kids usually grow out from tantrums.
✓ Kids usually grow out of tantrums.
'Grow out OF + habit'.
Common collocations
grow out of + habit— tantrums, that phase, nail-biting, fussy eating
Don't confuse it
Not about size or clothes—this sense is about habits, interests, or behaviors.
Related
- grow out of (become too big for) — Another meaning of 'grow out of' is 'become too big for'; compare the examples to keep the meanings separate.