расти над собой

• РАСТИ НАД СОБОЙ highly coll, humor or iron

[VP; subj: human; fixed WO]

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⇒ to work, make an effort to improve one's standing, status, cultural level etc:

- X растет над собой{{}}≈ X is working (trying) to improve (to better) himself;

- [in limited contexts] X Is trying to get culture;

- [of o.s., in response to the interlocutor's remark, praise etc] we're trying;

- we're doing our best (the best we can, what little we can).

     ♦ ...Вот посмотрите, за один только год сколько скопил полных собраний, не у каждого потомственного интеллигента найдешь... Может, вы думаете, дорогая, что я эти книжки-то солю? Читаю, дорогая, вникаю, даже делаю выписки. Постоянно приходится расти над собой, жизнь подсказывает (Аксенов 12). [context transl] " .Take a look, think how many complete collections I got in just one year, not every hereditary intellectual would have so many.. Maybe you think I just salt these books away, darling? I read them, darling, delve, even take notes. You have to keep growing, life tells you that" (12a).