IdiomDaily Life
English
Englishrub someone the wrong way
Meaning: To irritate someone.
Example: “Something about his laugh rubs me the wrong way.”
Origin: Stroking a cat's fur against the way it grows irritates the animal. The phrase is recorded from the 19th century; the British say "rub someone up the wrong way."
More English idioms
- run amok To run around in a frenzied or disorderly way.
- run something into the ground To belabor something beyond reason; to go too far with something.
- scared out of one's wits So afraid that one is unable to think clearly.
- have a screw loose To be harmlessly crazy.
- second-guess To dispute or try to understand someone's reason for doing something.
- have second thoughts To begin to have doubts; to question and reexamine a decision.
Explore another collection: Proverbs
Short sayings of timeless wisdom from more than 50 cultures, each with its meaning and origin.
- 天网恢恢，疏而不漏 (Tiān wǎng huīhuī, shū ér bú lòu) Wrongdoers cannot escape punishment in the end.
- 上梁不正下梁歪 (Shàng liáng bú zhèng xià liáng wāi) When leaders or parents behave badly, those below them follow.
- 众人拾柴火焰高 (Zhòngrén shí chái huǒyàn gāo) When everyone contributes, much more can be achieved.
Keep exploring