GROWING PAINS Definition & Meaning

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growing pains

plural noun

dull, quasi-rheumatic pains of varying degree in the limbs during childhood and adolescence, often popularly associated with the process of growing.
emotional difficulties experienced during adolescence and preadulthood.
difficulties attending any new project or any rapid development of an existing project.
a city plagued with growing pains.

growing pains

plural noun

pains in muscles or joints sometimes experienced by children during a period of unusually rapid growth
difficulties besetting a new enterprise in its early stages

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51�Թ� History and Origins

Origin of growing pains¹

First recorded in 1800–10

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Idioms and Phrases

Problems that arise in beginning or enlarging an enterprise, as in The company is undergoing growing pains but should be viable by next year. This expression, which dates from the late 1800s, originally referred to the joint and limb aches experienced by youngsters who are growing rapidly. By about 1900 it was being used figuratively.

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

More growing pains might have to be endured.

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All of the new bodies have had growing pains both from unforced errors and unforeseen consequences of the language that created them.

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And then there were expected examples of growing pains — from Sasaki’s inability to slow the running game, to the bases-loaded free pass he issued to Kyle Tucker that resulted in his only run allowed.

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The question this time is whether these are growing pains of a rapidly expanding and professionalising outfit or something more chronically limiting.

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But at the time, “there were definitely some growing pains.”

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When To Use

What does growing pains mean?

Originally a reference to the physical pains many children experience when going through a growth spurt, growing pains has come to refer to the hardships experienced at the early stages of some endeavor.The term is frequently used to describe the struggles found in transitioning from an adolescent to an adult, from an amateur to a professional, or the creation or expansion of a business.How is growing pains pronounced?[ groh-ing peynz ]

growing-equity mortgage growing point

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