rub the wrong way

rub the wrong way
phrasal
: to arouse the antagonism, antipathy, or displeasure of : irritate

a knack of understanding my fellow creatures … and not being rubbed the wrong way by their faults — Max Beerbohm

* * *

rub (someone) the wrong way (US) (or Brit rub (someone) up the wrong way)
informal : to cause (someone) to be angry or annoyed :irritate

She meant to be helpful but her suggestion really rubbed me the wrong way.

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Main Entry:rub
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rub (someone) the wrong way — see rub, 1
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Main Entry:wrong

Useful english dictionary. 2012.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • rub the wrong way — rub (someone) the wrong way to annoy someone. He was known as a moody and selfish player who rubbed teammates the wrong way. Etymology: based on the idea that if you rub the wrong way on a cat s fur, you annoy it …   New idioms dictionary

  • rub the wrong way — [v] irritate aggravate, anger, annoy, bother, bug*, disturb, drive up the wall*, enrage, get on one’s nerves*, get to, get under one’s skin*, infuriate, irk, needle*, pester, rattle, ruffle one’s feathers; concepts 7,19 …   New thesaurus

  • rub the wrong way — index irritate Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 …   Law dictionary

  • rub the wrong way — ► rub (up) the wrong way anger or irritate. Main Entry: ↑rub …   English terms dictionary

  • rub the wrong way — {v. phr.}, {informal} To make (someone) a little angry; do something not liked by (someone); annoy; bother. * /John s bragging rubbed the other boys the wrong way./ * /Mother s friend called Harold a little boy, and that rubbed Harold the wrong… …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • rub the wrong way — {v. phr.}, {informal} To make (someone) a little angry; do something not liked by (someone); annoy; bother. * /John s bragging rubbed the other boys the wrong way./ * /Mother s friend called Harold a little boy, and that rubbed Harold the wrong… …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • rub\ the\ wrong\ way — v. phr. informal To make (someone) a little angry; do something not liked by (someone); annoy; bother. John s bragging rubbed the other boys the wrong way. Mother s friend called Harold a little boy, and that rubbed Harold the wrong way. Compare …   Словарь американских идиом

  • rub the wrong way — bother, irritate, bug    That waiter rubs me the wrong way. He s too impatient …   English idioms

  • rub the wrong way — phrasal to arouse the antagonism or displeasure of ; irritate …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • rub someone the wrong way — rub (someone) the wrong way to annoy someone. He was known as a moody and selfish player who rubbed teammates the wrong way. Etymology: based on the idea that if you rub the wrong way on a cat s fur, you annoy it …   New idioms dictionary

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