grain (redirected from grained)

go against the grain

if something that you say or do goes against the grain, you do not like saying or doing it and it is not what you would usually say or do. It goes against the grain for William to admit that he's wrong. I don't think she likes to praise men. It goes against the grain.

See also: against

a grain of truth

a small amount of truth. There's a grain of truth in what she says but it's greatly exaggerated.

See also: truth

take something with a pinch of salt (British & Australian, American & Australian)

if you take what someone says with a pinch of salt, you do not completely believe it. You have to take everything she says with a pinch of salt. She has a tendency to exaggerate. It's interesting to read the reports in the newspapers, but I tend to take them with a grain of salt.

See also: pinch, salt, take

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go against the grain

to do something that is the opposite of what is usually done. It's not easy to go against the grain and buy stocks when others are selling them.

Usage notes: sometimes used with verbs other than go: The changes will certainly rub against the grain here.

Etymology: from the act of cutting wood against the grain (= in the direction opposite to the direction in which the fibers in the wood lie)

See also: against

take something with a grain of salt

to consider something to be not completely true or right. I've read the article, which I take with a grain of salt.

hard to swallow

Etymology: based on the idea that food tastes better and is easier to swallow if you add a little salt

See also: salt, take