against the grain

phrase

: different from what is normal or usual

It takes courage to go against the grain and stand up for what you believe in.

Examples of against the grain in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Slice steak against the grain and arrange on top of greens; drizzle sauce over. — Chris Morocco, Bon Appetit Magazine, 17 July 2026

Poehling took a pass from Killorn, sped down the left side, cut right and shot against the grain to the left. — CBS News, 20 Mar. 2026

But there are too many stray details that cut against the grain of his professionalism, giving the painting an almost comic air. — Zachary Fine, New Yorker, 16 Mar. 2026

Remove the steaks from the freezer and slice against the grain into long, 1/4-inch-wide strips. — Anna Butler, Dallas Morning News, 13 Mar. 2026

Rhymes for against the grain

• cyclopropane
• legerdemain
• nitromethane
• ultramontane
• abstain
• airplane
• alkane
• arcane
• arraign
• attain
• backplane
• betaine