1134 Go against the grain - English Idioms

Explanation

To do or say something that opposes or contradicts what is generally accepted, common practice, or popular opinion.

Origin

Comes from woodworking. Wood has a natural grain (the direction of its fibers).
Cutting or planing against the grain is harder, produces a rougher surface, and can damage the wood.
Metaphorically, it means acting contrary to the natural or expected direction. Used since the 17th century.

Alternatives

Slang/Informal:

Be different.
Rock the boat. (Disturb the status quo, often negatively)
Stick your neck out. (Take a risk by doing/saying something unpopular)
Do your own thing.

Milder/Standard:

Hold a dissenting view.
Adopt an alternative approach.
Deviate from the norm.

Situational Appropriateness

Appropriate in most contexts, informal and formal.
Can be interpreted positively (independent thinking) or negatively (being difficult, obstructive), depending on context and tone.

Misunderstanding Warnings

The connection to wood grain might not be obvious.
Explain the metaphor of resisting the natural or common direction.

Examples

She always goes against the grain; if everyone likes something, she'll find fault with it.
His unconventional ideas often went against the grain, but they led to innovation.
It goes against the grain for me to lie, even a white lie.

Dialogue

Manager A: Everyone on the team wants to use the standard software.

Manager B: I know, but I think this new platform, while different, is ultimately better. I realize I'm going against the grain here.

Manager A: It's risky, but let's hear your case for it.

Response Patterns

That takes courage. (Admiring)
Why make things difficult? (Critical)
Sometimes that's necessary. (Neutral/Supportive)
What makes you say/do that? (Curious)

Common Follow-up Questions/Actions

After admiration (That takes courage):

Might lead to discussion about the person's motivations or the specific situation. Yeah, it wasn't easy, but I felt strongly about it.

After criticism (Why make things difficult?):

Could lead to defending the unconventional approach or explaining the reasoning. It's not about being difficult; it's about finding a better way.

Conversation Starter

No. Used to describe an action, opinion, or characteristic, usually within an existing conversation.

Intonation

Stress on GO, AGAINST, and GRAIN.
Can be said admiringly (implying independence) or critically (implying stubbornness or difficulty).
He likes to GO aGAINST the GRAIN.

Generation Differences

Widely understood and used.

Regional Variations

Common in all major English-speaking regions.

Get something off your chest

🎲 Go down in flames

[1134] Go against the grain