Р-87

РАСТИ НАД СОБОЙ highly coll , humor or iron VP subj: human fixed WOJ 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 Ls 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).