go 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.

But I am going to go against the grain here.

From BBC • Apr. 23, 2026

Many of our best picks resulted from a willingness to go against the grain with out-of-favor stocks—and impeccable timing.

From Barron's • Jan. 29, 2026

We should nurture them as an occasionally irresponsible group that can go against the grain of society and pronounce hard truths.

From Salon • Nov. 1, 2025

But that would go against the grain for Thomas Bach, the IOC president whose fencing career was hurt by a boycott of the 1980 Moscow Games after the Soviet Union’s invasion of Afghanistan.

From Seattle Times • Jul. 24, 2023

Now the airy superiority which this man assumed, did go against the grain of Mr Harding; and yet he did not know how to resent it.

From Barchester Towers by Trollope, Anthony