against the grain

Idioms  

1. Opposed to one's inclination or preference, as in We followed the new supervisor's advice, though it went against the grain. This metaphor refers to the natural direction of the fibers in a piece of wood, called its grain; when sawed obliquely, or “against the grain,” the wood will tend to splinter. [c. 1600] For a synonym, see rub the wrong way.

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

against the grain

Anything unexpectedly or especially moving, rousing, funny or strange, things that go against the grain of a production that wants to keep things controlled in order to bring the ship in on time.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 15, 2026

“We’ve completely gone against the grain of the Silicon Valley bubble for self-driving and I think we might have been swallowed up if we were starting there.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 28, 2026

“But here’s the thing: I’m a pioneer. And I’m going against the grain here. I’m climbing a mountain they say you can’t climb.”

From Salon ● Jun. 22, 2026

"It's because these films are so beautiful, so unique and so strong that they sometimes go against the grain," said Binoche.

From Barron's ● Feb. 15, 2026

I place one clammy palm against the grain of the door and push.

From "Love, Hate & Other Filters" by Samira Ahmed

Related Words

• afraid
• averse
• compelled
• evasive
• forced
• loath
• reluctant
• resistant
• unenthusiastic