go against the grain

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go against the grain (third-person singular simple present goes against the grain, present participle going against the grain, simple past went against the grain, past participle gone against the grain)

1. (idiomatic) To defy convention; to do something in a manner that is unusual or out of the ordinary.

   His method certainly goes against the grain, but it is unquestionably effective.

• run counter

• against the grain