against the grain
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
“It goes against the grain of what singers are trained to do,” Patrick Morganelli, who composed the score, told The Times back when it was first staged.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 1, 2026
While the Jayhawks’ range of historic sounds is revisited, so is the outfit’s tendency to mix darker or lighter music against the grain of the words, in unexpected ways.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 24, 2026
And going against the grain is finally paying off for the nation’s largest brokerage: Stellar first-quarter numbers across the board sent the stock soaring Wednesday.
From Barron's ● May 6, 2026
For someone who has always gone against the grain, and occasionally off the rails, it is hard to imagine what he could do now to diminish his status, however.
From BBC ● Mar. 23, 2025
But still he never wished me good luck and that has always gone against the grain.
From "In Cold Blood" by Truman Capote
