have growing pains
have growing pains
1. Literally, to feel pains in the limbs and joints during growth spurts, as is common in children. A: "He's just been so irritable lately. It's really unlike him." B: "I be he just has growing pains; I wouldn't worry about it."
2. By extension, to experience troubles or difficulties as a new company or organization enters into business or becomes 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, have, pain
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
have growing pains
1. Fig. [for a child] to have pains—which are attributed to growth-in the muscles and joints. The doctor said that all Mary had were growing pains and that nothing was really wrong. Not everyone has growing pains.
2. Fig. [for an organization] to have difficulties in its early stages of growth. The banker apologized for losing my check and said the bank was having growing pains. The new administration was having terrible growing pains.
See also: grow, have, pain
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
- growing pains
- sorehead
- (as) cross as a bear
- cross as a bear
- be out of sorts
- be, feel, etc. out of sorts
- squirt
- squirt at
- squirt at (someone or something)
- out of humor