What Does “Grow on sb” Mean?
“Grow on sb” means to gradually become liked or appreciated by someone over time, especially after an initial dislike or indifference.
Introduction
The phrase “grow on sb” is a useful phrasal verb in English that describes how feelings toward a person, object, or idea can change gradually. Often, when you first meet someone or try something new, you might not like it immediately. However, over time, that person or thing can “grow on you,” meaning you start to like it more and more. Understanding the “grow on sb meaning” helps learners express this change in attitude clearly. It’s commonly used in everyday conversations, making it a valuable phrase for English learners to master.
Quick Info Box
- Phrasal verb: grow on somebody
- Type: intransitive
- Level: B2
- Short meaning: to gradually become liked by someone
Structure (Grammar Rules)
“Grow on sb” is an inseparable phrasal verb, which means you cannot separate “grow” and “on” by other words.
It follows this pattern:
- grow on + somebody
- Example: The song grew on me after a few listens.
You cannot say “grow somebody on” or add objects between “grow” and “on.”
How to Use “Grow on sb”?
Use “grow on sb” when you want to describe how someone’s feelings or opinions about something develop over time. It often expresses a positive change from dislike or indifference to liking or affection. You can use it for things like music, people, food, habits, or ideas.
Example: If you don’t like a new style of music at first, you can say, “This music is growing on me.”
Examples
When you first try a new food, it might taste strange. But after eating it a few times, it can grow on you.
- The new teacher seemed strict at first, but she really grew on the students.
- I didn’t like that movie at the start, but it grew on me by the end.
- His sense of humor took a while to grow on me, but now I find him very funny.
- The idea of living in a big city grew on her after a few months.
- Some people say jazz music grows on you the more you listen to it.
These examples show how “grow on sb” is used in sentences to explain gradual liking.
Common Mistakes
Many learners confuse the word order or try to separate the phrasal verb incorrectly.
- Incorrect: The idea grew me on.
- Correct: The idea grew on me.
- Incorrect: The song is growing me on.
- Correct: The song is growing on me.
Remember, “grow on” must stay together, and the person who likes something comes after.
Differences / Synonyms
“Grow on sb” is similar to phrases like “catch on” or “take to,” but they have different meanings.
- Catch on: to understand or become popular.
- Take to: to begin to like someone or something quickly.
Unlike “take to,” which suggests immediate liking, “grow on sb” emphasizes gradual appreciation over time.
Common Collocations
Here are some common objects used with “grow on sb”:
- Music: The new album grew on me slowly.
- Person: He grew on me after we worked together.
- Food: The taste of olives grew on her.
- Idea: The plan grew on the team after discussion.
- Style: That fashion trend grew on him.
Related Phrasal Verbs
Here are related phrasal verbs of grow on sb:
Real-life Dialogue
Here is a short conversation using “grow on sb”:
Anna: I didn’t like that TV show at first.
Ben: Really? I thought it was great from the start.
Anna: Yeah, but it grew on me after a few episodes.
Ben: That happens sometimes. Some shows take time to appreciate.
Practice
Choose the correct sentence:
- A) That song is growing me on.
- B) That song is growing on me.
- C) That song is growing on I.
Answer: B) That song is growing on me.
Fill in the blank:
The new coworker was quiet, but she really _______ me after a few weeks.
Answer: grew on
FAQs
- Q: Can “grow on sb” be used in the past tense?
A: Yes, it becomes “grew on sb” in the past tense.
- Q: Is “grow on sb” formal or informal?
A: It is commonly used in informal and everyday English.
- Q: Can “grow on sb” describe negative feelings?
A: No, it usually refers to positive feelings developing over time.
- Q: Is “grow on sb” separable?
A: No, it is an inseparable phrasal verb.
- Q: Can “grow on sb” be used with animals?
A: Yes, for example, “The dog grew on me.”
