against the grain

: in opposition or hostility to

: not in conformity with : contrary to

: in competition with

: in preparation for the time when

: a single small hard seed

: a seed or fruit of a cereal grass : caryopsis

: the seeds or fruits of various food plants including the cereal grasses and in commercial and statutory usage other plants (such as the soybean)

: ingrain

: to form into grains : granulate

: to paint in imitation of the grain of wood or stone