Definition
To bother, disturb, irritate, or annoy.
Origins
From the negative reaction of a cat to being stroked contrary to the direction its fur lies.
In Context
- "It's a small thing, really, to leave towels unfolded, but it rubs him the wrong way."
- "“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?”"
Also Said As
- chap someone's hide
- raise someone's hackles
- aggravate
- annoy
- nettle
- rankle
- ruffle
- sting
- antagonize
- bother
- disgruntle
- botherate
- bug
- get
- grate
- burn up
- bedevil
- cheese off
- devil
- exasperate
- frustrate
- get up
- grotch
- hack off
- hassle
- irk
- irritate
- jazz
- molest
- mommick
- nark
- nerve
- pee off
- peeve
- persecute
- pique
- piss off
- provoke
- rile
- rile up
- roil
- storm
- test someone's patience
- tick off
- trouble
- try one's patience
- vex
- wind up
- Idioms:
- boil someone's piss
- chap someone's hide
- get on someone's nerves
- get on someone's tits
- get on someone's wick
- get someone's back up
- get someone's dander up
- get someone's goat
- get someone's Irish up
- get someone's nanny
- get someone's nanny-goat
- get under one's goat
- get under someone's skin
- give someone the shits
- grind one's gears
- harsh one's mellow
- put someone's back up
- raise someone's hackles
- rub someone the wrong way
- rub up the wrong way
- ruffle someone's feathers
- tee off
- torque off
See Also
- rub up the wrong way
- take the wrong way