(someone) (can/will) grow up to (be something / do something)

Adults often talk to children about what they will be like as an adult. To talk about what a child will be like in the future, use the phrase "grow up to be ___":

I want you to grow up to be healthy and happy.

I don't want him to grow up to be some kind of weird, awkward loner.

Do you remember that time when you said that you wanted to grow up to be a comedian?

Another way to talk about a child's future is to say "be ___ when you grow up". You mostly use this to talk about a chid's future job:

What do you want to be when you grow up?

This phrase appears in these lessons: