It's against the grain to go against what most people think. To change the world is hard, but it has to be done. How do you do it? This piece looks at what the phrase means and how it works.
"Going against the grain" means doing something that is different from what other people expect you to do. It started with Coriolanus by Shakespeare. In this case, it means going against your gut and what you think will happen.
The term is usually a pun, but it's not always funny. This word is sometimes used to describe a person's normal behaviour or attitude. When someone rubs against the grain of wood, splintering happens. When you buy stocks against the grain, you are also going against the grain.
When you go against the grain, you do something that isn't what most people do. It can mean going against someone's wants or doing something that is controversial. This word from Shakespeare has been used in many ways for a very long time.
It generally means something that goes against what society says. The word, which means to do the opposite of what was expected, became famous in Shakespeare's play Coriolanus.
Behaviour that goes against what people expect is called "going against the grain." The saying comes from Coriolanus by Shakespeare. This word can be used for almost anything that goes against the grain. Some examples are choosing a way of life, taking a chance, or going against what society says is right.
The phrase "goes against a person's nature" is like rubbing against the grain of wood, which causes splinters. The "should" vs. "shall" argument comes to mind. You can test your understanding with the "should" vs. "shall" quiz from Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company's New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition.
Having a different opinion works. It has been used for hundreds of years. Shakespeare's plays made us think about what was normal. People respect different points of view. You can also make your information stand out. You need to know when to use this method.
Is opposite view simple?
You should "go against the grain" if you want to do something different. It has been used for thousands of years to describe behaviour that is not acceptable. Shakespeare made this word well-known in Coriolanus.
They say that cutting wood with the grain is easier than cutting it against the grain. It's not the same as going against the rules or the flow.