Growth is an essential part of life, encompassing personal, professional, and physical development. Understanding idioms that describe growth can enhance your English skills and help you articulate progress more effectively. Here are 20 idioms that capture various aspects of growth.
1. Bloom Where You’re Planted
Meaning: Thrive in any situation
Example: She decided to bloom where she’s planted and excelled at her job.
2. Burst at the Seams
Meaning: Overfilled or growing rapidly
Example: The company is bursting at the seams with new projects.
3. Come into One’s Own
Meaning: Reach full potential
Example: She came into her own as a leader after years of hard work.
4. Break New Ground
Meaning: Do something innovative
Example: The team broke new ground with their latest invention.
5. Grow by Leaps and Bounds
Meaning: Rapid progress
Example: His skills grew by leaps and bounds after intensive training.
6. Hit One’s Stride
Meaning: Perform at full potential
Example: She hit her stride in the second year of her business.
7. Make Great Strides
Meaning: Make significant progress
Example: The company has made great strides in renewable energy.
8. On the Fast Track
Meaning: Rapid advancement
Example: He is on the fast track to becoming the youngest manager.
9. Shoot Up
Meaning: Grow quickly
Example: The young trees have shot up over the summer.
10. Spread One’s Wings
Meaning: Begin to use one’s abilities
Example: She finally spread her wings and started her own business.
11. Step Up One’s Game
Meaning: Improve performance
Example: To succeed, you need to step up your game.
12. Take Off
Meaning: Grow or develop quickly
Example: His career took off after the successful project.
13. Take Root
Meaning: Establish firmly
Example: The new policies are starting to take root in the company culture.
14. Come a Long Way
Meaning: Make significant progress
Example: He has come a long way since his first day on the job.
15. Plant the Seeds
Meaning: Start something that will develop later
Example: She planted the seeds of change with her innovative ideas.
16. Bloom
Meaning: Flourish
Example: The business is blooming despite the tough economy.
17. Cultivate
Meaning: Develop by effort
Example: He has cultivated a strong network of contacts.
18. Flourish
Meaning: Grow well
Example: Her creativity flourished in the supportive environment.
19. Germinate
Meaning: Begin to develop
Example: His interest in science germinated during his childhood.
20. Sprout Up
Meaning: Appear or develop quickly
Example: New cafes have sprouted up all over the neighborhood.