rub someone up the wrong way

A form of rub someone the wrong way — To cause someone irritation, discomfort or annoyance, often unintentionally, because of one's behavior, manner, attitude or personality.

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Meanings

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

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

  1. alternativeAlternative form of rub someone the wrong way
Cite this entry
APA

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

MLA

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

Chicago

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

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