against the grain

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.

Example Sentences

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

From BBC

That upbringing made him an inclusionary presence, as well as someone who never feared going against the grain.

From Salon

For Thomas, whose originalism often masks a deep commitment to structural clarity, that outcome may have cut too far against the grain.

From Slate

“For LAFM, we’re always trying to celebrate films that feel personal and are clearly going against the grain of commercial filmmaking in some way,” said Micah Gottlieb, LAFM’s co-founder and artistic director, via email from Los Angeles.

From Los Angeles Times

For someone who has always gone against the grain, and occasionally off the rails, it is hard to imagine what he could do now to diminish his status, however.

From BBC

Related Words

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