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
Escalation cuts against the grain of their interests.
—
Kenneth M. Pollack, Foreign Affairs, 12 Oct. 2023
With a sharp knife, slice on a slight bias against the grain, about 1/8-inch thick.
—David Tanis, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 May 2024
Step 4 On a large cutting board, thinly slice the veal against the grain.
—Tony Ferrari, Saveur, 15 May 2024
And her work continued to run against the grain throughout the Minimalist and Conceptualist years.
—Holland Cotter, New York Times, 15 Apr. 2024
See all Example Sentences for against the grain 
Kenneth M. Pollack, Foreign Affairs, 12 Oct. 2023
With a sharp knife, slice on a slight bias against the grain, about 1/8-inch thick.
—David Tanis, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 May 2024
Step 4 On a large cutting board, thinly slice the veal against the grain.
—Tony Ferrari, Saveur, 15 May 2024
And her work continued to run against the grain throughout the Minimalist and Conceptualist years.
—Holland Cotter, New York Times, 15 Apr. 2024
See all Example Sentences for against the grain
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'against the grain.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near 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 2 Jul. 2024.
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