a difficult path to be followed
something which is contradicting our wishes
action performed unwillingly
hard to accept or do something as it is against our rules
things we don’t do in the usual manner
in the opposite way or perpendicular to the direction of the fibers of something like a piece of wood, meat etc. See example number 6.
It is against the grain for me to tackle dishonest people.
It goes against the grain to accept that she is going to change her bad behavior with others.
Sometimes we must take steps that go against the grain.
Carol is always loyal, and it went against the grain for her to become disloyal.
John goes against the grain by making a cake instead of pizza this time.
Don’t cut that wood against the grain, it will be rough around the edges.
There is no origin for this idiom
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definition
Common phrase that has a specific meaning.