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

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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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Cite this Entry

“Against the grain.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/against%20the%20grain. Accessed 1 Jul. 2025.

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