against the grain

Feeding paper into a printing press against the grain of the paper or folding paper at right angles against the grain. The grain is the direction in which the paper fibers run. Folds made against the grain are more bulky than folds made with the grain (i.e., in the direction of the paper fibers). Folding against the grain is not recommended when excess bulk may be a problem. See also cross direction.

Opposed to one's inclination or preference, as in We followed the new supervisor's advice, though it went against the grain. This metaphor refers to the natural direction of the fibers in a piece of wood, called its grain; when sawed obliquely, or "against the grain," the wood will tend to splinter. [c. 1600] For a synonym, see rub the wrong way.