go against the grain

Cultural  

1. To go contrary to someone's natural disposition: “Having to get up this early in the morning really goes against my grain.” This refers to the fact that someone who rubs his hand against the grain on a piece of lumber will get splinters.

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

go against the grain

Many of our best picks resulted from a willingness to go against the grain with out-of-favor stocks—and impeccable timing.

From Barron's ● Jan. 29, 2026

David Murdoch: Going to go against the grain here and say this tie isn't over.

From BBC ● Aug. 20, 2025

Like their immortal counterparts, these two thoroughly enjoy their work, and they especially delight in knowing their vampires go against the grain of the type of bloody romance 20- and 30-something viewers were raised with.

From Salon ● May 26, 2024

But that would go against the grain for Thomas Bach, the IOC president whose fencing career was hurt by a boycott of the 1980 Moscow Games after the Soviet Union’s invasion of Afghanistan.

From Seattle Times ● Jul. 24, 2023

It did go against the grain to play myself for a longshot, though; but Jarvis wouldn't listen to anything else, claimin' his weight and reach made it an even thing.

From Shorty McCabe by F. Vaux (Francis Vaux) Wilson