go against the grain

1. To go contrary to someone's natural disposition: “Having to get up this early in the morning really goes against my grain.” This refers to the fact that someone who rubs his hand against the grain on a piece of lumber will get splinters.

Example Sentences

“That’s not how people behaved. But to see the beginnings of that kind of progress, to not maintain racial segregation in business — obviously, they wanted to make money from this large building, but they were also willing to go against the grain.”

From Seattle Times

That willingness to go against the grain, to share the space regardless of race, created the conditions for Washington Hall to mean a whole lot to a whole lot of people — long after the Danish Brotherhood had left.

From Seattle Times

The leaders of the so-called men's conferences have been polygamists - seen by some as people who go against the grain, against societal pressures, to do what they want to do.

From BBC

In vowing to push back, Cameron said: “You need somebody that is willing to go against the grain of the far-left and the environmentalists that are trying to destroy our fossil fuels industry.”

From Seattle Times

The reality is: it’s going to take an army of parents speaking up and voting to cut the chaos, but the real changemakers will be people like Ms. Mirabelli and Ms. Shaw who go against the grain to stand up for what’s true, good, and right — no matter the personal cost.

From Washington Times