Definition, Meaning & Synonyms
rub someone up the wrong way
Idiomatic Expression
/rʌb ˈsʌmwʌn ʌp ðə rɔŋ weɪ/
Definition
To irritate or annoy someone, often without intending to.
Examples
- His tone of voice really rubs me up the wrong way.
- She didn’t mean to rub him up the wrong way, but her comments came off as rude.
- Sometimes, it’s just the way you say something that can rub people up the wrong way.
Meaning
The phrase means to cause someone to feel uneasy, upset, or irritated by one’s actions or comments.
Synonyms
- Annoy
- Irritate
- Vex
- Upset
