rub the wrong way
rub (one) the wrong way
To irritate one due to someone's or something's presence, nature, or habitual behavior (as opposed to directly and intentionally). Primarily heard in US. The way she smiles all the time really rubs me the wrong way. It seems so fake. He's always talking about how those commercials rub him the wrong way, but I think they're cute.
See also: rub, way, wrong
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
rub someone('s fur) the wrong way
Fig. to irritate someone. I'm sorry I rubbed your fur the wrong way. I didn't mean to upset you. Don't rub her the wrong way!
See also: rub, way, wrong
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
rub the wrong way
Irritate, annoy, as in His remarks about welfare rubbed a great many people the wrong way. This idiom alludes to rubbing an animal's fur in the wrong direction. [Mid-1800s] Also see ruffle someone's feathers.
See also: rub, way, wrong
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
rub (someone) the wrong way
To annoy; irritate: "One can see ... how [his] expression of his ideals and intentions must have rubbed many people the wrong way" (Christopher Lehmann-Haupt).
See also: rub, way, wrong
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition.
rub the wrong way, to
To annoy. This expression transfers rubbing a cat’s fur in the wrong direction to irritating a human being. (See also against the grain.) The British locution is to rub someone up the wrong way and dates from the mid-nineteenth century. “Don’t rub her prejudices up the wrong way,” wrote H. Aïdé (Carr of Carrlyou, 1862).
See also: rub, wrong
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer
- rub (one) the wrong way
- get on (one's) quince
- get on someone's quince
- quince
- get on someone's wick
- get on (one's) wick
- get on somebody's wick
- piss on (someone's) chips
- piss on (someone's) bonfire
- get on someone's tits