Dictionary

grind one's gears en · VERB

Pronunciation

• (US) audio

Etymology

As an analogy to a state in a multispeed internal combustion engine in which improperly synchronized inputs and outputs in the transmission during a gear shift (as by driver error or a mechanical fault) lead to literal grinding of gears against each other as they're forced to mesh at different speeds from one another. The noise produced is harsh and grating, and damage to the transmission can accumulate with repeated occurrences.

Meanings

1. (idiomatic, informal) To annoy or irritate one.
   • It really grinds my gears when inconsiderate people litter.
   • Yes it has a clickbaity title, and yes, this show will grind the gears of thousands – but it should. It will open everyone’s eyes to the segregated world of dating[.] 2017 July 17, Charlie Brinkhurst-Cuff, “Is Love Racist? The TV show laying our biases bare”, in The Guardian, →ISSN:

Forms

Synonyms

cheese off · exasperate · provoke · get on someone's wick · hack off · raise someone's hackles · peeve · devil · put someone's back up · bother · grotch · get on someone's tits · acerbate · tick off · aggravate · persecute · nark · rile · get someone's Irish up · rile up · tee off · get someone's nanny-goat · rub up the wrong way · try one's patience · harsh one's mellow · give someone the shits · get someone's nanny · irritate · get someone's goat · mommick · get someone's back up · get someone's goat · botherate · get on someone's nerves · nerve · Idioms: · bedevil · molest · burn someone's ass · rub someone the wrong way · peeve off · burn up · get under one's goat · nettle · storm · grate · disgruntle · antagonize · torque off · frustrate · ruffle · chap someone's hide · get someone's dander up · sting · bug · rankle · wind up · piss off · boil someone's piss · jazz · roil · get under someone's skin · chap someone's hide · vex · ruffle someone's feathers · trouble · get · grind one's gears · pique · irk · hassle · annoy · test someone's patience · pee off · get up