against the grain

against the grain
*against the grain
1. Lit. across the alignment of the fibers of a piece of wood. (*Typically: be \against the grain; cut \against the grain; go\against the grain; run \against the grain; saw \against the grain.) •

You sawed it wrong. You sawed against the grain when you should have cut with grain.

You went against the grain and made a mess of your sanding.

2. Fig. running counter to one's feelings or ideas. (*Typically: be \against the grain; go \against the grain.) •

The idea of my actually taking something that is not mine goes against the grain.

* * *
{adv. phr.} 1. Across rather than with the direction of the fibers (as of wood or meat). * /He sandpapered the wood against the grain./ 2. So as to annoy or trouble, or to cause anger or dislike. - Usually follows "go". * /His coarse and rude ways went against the grain with me./ * /It went against the grain with him to have to listen to her gossip./ Compare: RUB THE WRONG WAY.

Dictionary of American idioms. 2013.

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  • against the grain — {adv. phr.} 1. Across rather than with the direction of the fibers (as of wood or meat). * /He sandpapered the wood against the grain./ 2. So as to annoy or trouble, or to cause anger or dislike. Usually follows go . * /His coarse and rude ways… …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • Against the Grain — may refer to:In broadcast media: * Against the Grain (TV series), 1993 NBC drama series with Ben Affleck * Against the Grain (radio program), an interview program on Pacifica Radio station KPFA, Berkeley, hosted by C.S. SoongIn music:* Against… …   Wikipedia

  • Against the grain — Grain Grain (gr[=a]n), n. [F. grain, L. granum, grain, seed, small kernel, small particle. See {Corn}, and cf. {Garner}, n., {Garnet}, {Gram} the chick pea, {Granule}, {Kernel.}] [1913 Webster] 1. A single small hard seed; a kernel, especially of …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Against the Grain — Studioalbum von Bad Religion Veröffentlichung 1990 Label Epitaph Records F …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Against The Grain — (album, 1990) Pour les articles homonymes, voir Against the Grain …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Against the grain — (album, 1990) Pour les articles homonymes, voir Against the Grain …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Against the Grain — Álbum de Bad Religion Publicación 23 de noviembre de 1990 Grabación mayo de 1990, en Westbeach Recorders, Hollywood, California Género(s) Pun …   Wikipedia Español

  • Against The Grain — это пятый альбом американской панк рок группа, Bad Religion. Обложки изображена по борьбе с насилием. Это одна функция,21st Century Digital Boy. Трек лист 1. Modern Man Graffin 1:58 2. Turn on the Light Gurewitz 1:24 3. Get Off Graffin 1:43 4.… …   Википедия

  • against the grain — If doing something goes against the grain, you re unwilling to do it because it contradicts what you believe in, but you have no real choice …   The small dictionary of idiomes

  • against the grain — against the natural way, rub the wrong way    Some words go against the grain. Their spellings aren t natural …   English idioms

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