rub someone the wrong way en · VERB
Pronunciation
- (Australia) audio
Etymology
From the negative reaction of a cat to being stroked contrary to the direction its fur lies.
Meanings
-
(idiomatic, transitive) To cause someone irritation, discomfort or annoyance, often unintentionally, because of one's behavior, manner, attitude or personality.
“Look, I tell you what, Mac. Seeing how as you're my best friend” “Yeah!” “Maybe you can look into it for me. Go snoop around the shop.” “Can-can I stop you for a second? I'm sorry. I'm a little confused here. You-you just said that he was your best friend? How is he your best friend over me?” “Well, I mean... You banged the waitress. Do I even have to explain that to you? That kind of rubbed me the wrong way, dude.” “Okay. I mean, you know, I don't see how that should factor into whether we're best friends or not. Y'know, to be honest with you, man, I'm a little shocked. I'm-I'm kinda-- I'm thunderstruck.” “Oh, well, I'm sorry, man. But y'know I didn't mean to hurt you. I didn't mean to thunderstrike you. But that's just-- I don't know what to tell you. What do you want to hear?” “I need for you to explain to me how it is that you consider Mac to be a better friend to you.” “Look, now this is just becoming awkward when I have a real problem! And all of a sudden it's about some weird feelings thing! And it's not about your feelings right now! It's about my feelings 'cause I have a problem, okay?. Now, Mac, please, do you think you can find this guy and kick his ass for me?”
2008 September 25, David Hornsby, “Mac's Banging the Waitress” (1:38 from the start), in It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, season 4, episode 4, spoken by Charlie Kelly (Charlie Day):
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| rubbed someone the wrong way | Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part | lexicographic | |
| rubbed someone the wrong way | Tense=Past | lexicographic | |
| rub someone up the wrong way | alternative | lexicographic | |
| rubbing someone the wrong way | Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part | lexicographic | |
| rubs someone the wrong way | Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres | lexicographic |
Relateds
take the wrong way · rub someone the right way · rub up the wrong way
Synonyms
storm · irritate · pee off · acerbate · put someone's back up · nark · peeve · get on someone's wick · grotch · ruffle · rile up · nerve · bother · get someone's nanny · Idioms: · roil · raise someone's hackles · harsh one's mellow · wind up · frustrate · get someone's back up · rub up the wrong way · test someone's patience · rile · try one's patience · rub someone the wrong way · irk · annoy · botherate · get someone's Irish up · get under one's goat · antagonize · raise someone's hackles · tee off · get on someone's tits · get · devil · hack off · get under someone's skin · burn up · aggravate · get someone's dander up · exasperate · rankle · get up · pique · bug · hassle · torque off · trouble · ruffle someone's feathers · boil someone's piss · vex · peeve off · provoke · jazz · nettle · sting · mommick · disgruntle · molest · give someone the shits · get someone's goat · chap someone's hide · tick off · persecute · bedevil · piss off · get on someone's nerves · grind one's gears · burn someone's ass · get someone's nanny-goat · grate · cheese off · chap someone's hide
Translations (12)
es no caer bien (to bother) · de jmdn. gegen den Strich gehen (to bother) · pl działać na nerwy (to bother) · cmn 讓某人很不爽 /让某人很不爽 (to bother) · it irritare (to bother) · fi ärsyttää (to bother) · pl grać na nerwach (to bother) · de jmdn. über die Hutschnur gehen (to bother) · de jucken (to bother) · de jmdn. ein Dorn im Auge sein (to bother) · de kratzen (to bother) · it infastidire (to bother)