rub someone the wrong way

verb

To cause someone irritation, discomfort or annoyance, often unintentionally, because of one's behavior, manner, attitude or personality.

Meanings

verbrub someone the wrong way (third-person singular simple present rubs someone the wrong way, present participle rubbing someone the wrong way, simple past and past participle rubbed someone the wrong way)

present singular third person rubs someone the wrong way · participle present rubbing someone the wrong way · participle past rubbed someone the wrong way · past rubbed someone the wrong way · alternative rub someone up the wrong way

  1. idiomatictransitiveTo cause someone irritation, discomfort or annoyance, often unintentionally, because of one's behavior, manner, attitude or personality.
    1 more example

    “Look, I tell you what, Mac. Seeing how as you're my best friend” “Yeah!” “Maybe you can look into it for me. Go snoop around the shop.” “Can-can I stop you for a second? I'm sorry. I'm a little confused here. You-you just said that he was your best friend? How is he your best friend over me?” “Well, I mean... You banged the waitress. Do I even have to explain that to you? That kind of rubbed me the wrong way, dude.” “Okay. I mean, you know, I don't see how that should factor into whether we're best friends or not. Y'know, to be honest with you, man, I'm a little shocked. I'm-I'm kinda-- I'm thunderstruck.” “Oh, well, I'm sorry, man. But y'know I didn't mean to hurt you. I didn't mean to thunderstrike you. But that's just-- I don't know what to tell you. What do you want to hear?” “I need for you to explain to me how it is that you consider Mac to be a better friend to you.” “Look, now this is just becoming awkward when I have a real problem! And all of a sudden it's about some weird feelings thing! And it's not about your feelings right now! It's about my feelings 'cause I have a problem, okay?. Now, Mac, please, do you think you can find this guy and kick his ass for me?”

    2008 September 25, David Hornsby, “Mac's Banging the Waitress” (1:38 from the start), in It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, season 4, episode 4, spoken by Charlie Kelly (Charlie Day)

    Synonyms: chap someone's hide, raise someone's hackles, aggravate, annoy, nettle, rankle, ruffle, sting

Synonyms & antonyms

verbTo cause someone irritation, discomfort or annoyance, often unintentionally, because of one's behavior, manner, attitude or personality.

Also see

Origin

From the negative reaction of a cat to being stroked contrary to the direction its fur lies.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Chinese Mandarin 讓某人很不爽 /让某人很不爽
  • 讓某人很不爽 /让某人很不爽 (ràng mǒurén hěn bùshuǎng)to bother
Finnish ärsyttää
  • ärsyttääto bother
German jmdn. ein Dorn im Auge sein, jmdn. gegen den Strich gehen
  • jmdn. ein Dorn im Auge seinto bother
  • jmdn. gegen den Strich gehento bother
  • jmdn. über die Hutschnur gehento bother
  • juckento bother
  • kratzento bother
Italian infastidire, irritare
  • infastidireto bother
  • irritareto bother
Polish działać na nerwy, grać na nerwach
  • działać na nerwyto bother
  • grać na nerwachto bother
Spanish no caer bien
  • no caer biento bother
Cite this entry
APA

rub someone the wrong way. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/rub%20someone%20the%20wrong%20way

MLA

“rub someone the wrong way.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/rub%20someone%20the%20wrong%20way. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “rub someone the wrong way,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/rub%20someone%20the%20wrong%20way.

Source: rub someone the wrong way on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.