We climb: To avoid something; to get away; to climb out of some mess we are in – in which case it expresses effort on our part; we climb to get something, to reach it, so this can be ambition or motivation. Climbing has risks though. Attaining new heights in work or relationship we reach the new and face anxiety, so may have a fear of failing/falling. Climbing may also depict the first half of life, and going downhill middle or old age. The example shows a common use of climb – to see what is there, beyond, above, out of sight. The child is exploring growth, to see what maturity and death have in store. Idioms: Climb down; social climber. See: hill; mountain.
