against the grain
idiom
: 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
Make sure to thinly cut the chicken against the grain to shorten the muscle fibers, making the chicken more tender and easier to chew—and more forgivable if over cooked.
—
Jasmine Smith, Southern Living, 21 June 2025
Polar’s Next Wearable Polar is going against the grain here in two important respects here.
—Andrew Williams, Forbes.com, 17 June 2025
Following two women raising their difficult son, this story rubs against the grain on every page and compels you to keep reading.
—Grace Flahive
june 17, Literary Hub, 17 June 2025
This generation isn’t the first to go against the grain in signing shoe deals.
—Jason Jones, New York Times, 15 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for against the grain
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Jasmine Smith, Southern Living, 21 June 2025
Polar’s Next Wearable Polar is going against the grain here in two important respects here.
—Andrew Williams, Forbes.com, 17 June 2025
Following two women raising their difficult son, this story rubs against the grain on every page and compels you to keep reading.
—Grace Flahive
june 17, Literary Hub, 17 June 2025
This generation isn’t the first to go against the grain in signing shoe deals.
—Jason Jones, New York Times, 15 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for against the grain
Cite this Entry
“Against the grain.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/against%20the%20grain. Accessed 21 Jul. 2025.
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