rubbed someone 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.

Meanings

verb
  1. participlepastsimple past and past participle of rub someone the wrong way
    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)
Cite this entry
APA

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

MLA

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

Chicago

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

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