growing pains

growing pains

1. Literally, pains in the limbs and joints of children during growth spurts. A: "He's just been so irritable lately. It's really unlike him." B: "I'd say it's just growing pains; I wouldn't worry about it."
2. By extension, the troubles or difficulties experienced by new companies or organizations as they enter into business or become established. We certainly had our share of growing pains when we opened up our restaurant, from trying to get a liquor license, to health inspectors, to ridiculous noise complaints from the neighbors.
See also: grow, pain
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

growing pains

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.
See also: grow, pain
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.

growing pains

If an organization or activity has growing pains, it experiences problems as it develops. He knew it was just a case of growing pains, the natural process of going from small local supplier to major distributor. Their three year-old marriage has been going through some growing pains. Note: Growing pains are pains that children sometimes get in their muscles and joints. Many people wrongly think that they are caused by the children growing too fast.
See also: grow, pain
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.

ˈgrowing pains

the problems, difficulties, etc. which happen in the early stages of something: The troubles that are affecting the company are more than just growing pains. Growing pains are pains that some children feel in their arms and legs when they are growing.
See also: grow, pain
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
See also:
  • have growing pains
  • sorehead
  • (as) cross as a bear
  • cross as a bear
  • out of humor
  • out of humour
  • out of sorts
  • have a worm in (one's) tongue
  • cranky
  • out of spirits
References in periodicals archive
But some docs think "growing pains'' are even common in kids as young as 3.
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Growing pains are something which affect the muscles rather than the joints and in most children, they are concentrated in the calf area but sometimes also in the front of the thighs.
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"Growing pains" are very characteristic, and can usually be diagnosed based only on the pattern of pain.
Growing pains
NEW YORK -- Almost half of children with "growing pains" have not outgrown them 5 years later.
Not all children will outgrow 'growing pains'
Her family said she was fit and healthy and showed no signs anything was wrong other than some neck and back pain, which a doctor had dismissed as growing pains.
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Billie Myers remains best known for her debut album, Growing Pains, and its single "Kiss the Rain," which was a smash hit in 1998.
Q+A
His son Andrew, top left, and in Growing Pains, left
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What we are experiencing now are growing pains. Part of those growing pains should be mistakes and failures: mistakes and failures that that can be learned from.<p>The second ever Sukuk default was revealed in May with Investment Dar defaulting on a periodic coupon payment to certificate holders on its $100 million Sukuk which fell due on 27 April 2009 and which is due to mature in 2010.
Growing Pains
Kids Health (see Kids and Growing Pains, The Brain is the Boss)--http://www.kidshealth.org/
Weekly resources
"Still Growing" is Kirk Cameron, former star of the hit sitcom 'Growing Pains', story of his life.
Still Growing
A growing non-profit organization is seeking to soothe growing pains for product-driven entrepreneurs in the North by helping them to connect with interested investors.
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"We've got some growing pains, but once we get out there and they see what we can do, we're going to be everybody's friend."
Army News Service (Aug. 29, 2006): Stryker teams train with new vehicles