grow on

• Audio (AU)

  (file)

grow on (third-person singular simple present grows on, present participle growing on, simple past grew on, past participle grown on)

1. (idiomatic, transitive) To become more likeable to someone.
   • 2015, Jenny Elliott, Save Me, Macmillan, →ISBN, page 82:

     Blinking and swallowing, she checked her list of questions. “What are some of your favorite outdoor and indoor activities?” “Well, whale watching is growing on me.”

   I didn't like this song at first, but now it's starting to grow on me.

2. (transitive) To gradually become more evident to someone.
   • 1902, Bram Stoker, chapter XVIII, in The Mystery of the Sea:

     "I can tell you now, Sam. […] When you left me last night, the whole deadly seriousness of the matter grew on me, till I was as miserable as a man can be." His face lightened as I spoke.

   • 2014, “Hunger of the Pine”, in This Is All Yours, performed by ​​alt-J:

     Realisation grew on me / As quickly as it takes your hand