Definition
To irritate or annoy someone through behavior, attitude, or personality that conflicts with their preferences or sensibilities. Describes a fundamental incompatibility that causes friction.
Etymology
This phrase originates from the literal experience of rubbing fur or fabric against its natural grain, which creates resistance and feels unpleasant. First recorded in the 1800s, it draws on the tactile experience of stroking a cat's fur backward. The metaphor perfectly captures how some people's approaches feel fundamentally contrary to our nature.
Kelly Says
This expression is beautifully tactile - we all know the uncomfortable feeling of rubbing velvet or fur the wrong direction. What's clever is how it suggests the problem isn't necessarily the person themselves, but rather a mismatch in approach or style, like trying to pet a cat backward. It implies the irritation could be resolved by changing direction.
Translations
AMአማርኛ
እኔን አይደለም
e-ne-n a-ye-de-lem
ARالعربية
يُزعجني
yu-za-j-ni
BNবাংলা
আমাকে ক্ষুব্ধ করো
a-ma-ke kshu-bhd kor-o
CACatalà
em malestar
em ma-les-tar
CSČeština
rozhnोvat mě
rozh-no-vat me
DADansk
irritere mig
ir-ri-te-re mig
DEDeutsch
mich auf die falsche Fährte führen
mich af dih fol-sheh far-te fue-ren
ELΕλληνικά
μου να στεναχωρηθώ
moo na ste-na-cho-re-tho
ESEspañol
hacerme sentir incómodo
a-ser-me sen-tir in-ko-mo-doh
FAفارسی
مرا آزار بده
mara a-zar bedeh
FISuomi
ärsyttää minua
ar-syu-taa mi-nu-a
FRFrançais
me mettre mal à l'aise
muh met-ruh mahl a la-z
GUGU
મને રોષ થાય
ma-ne ro-sh tha-ye
HAHA
yi-kuna ni
yi-ku-na ni
HEעברית
להרגיז אותי
le-har-giz o-ti
HIहिन्दी
मुझे नाराज करना
mujhe na-raaz karna
HUMagyar
idegesít
i-de-ges-it
IDBahasa Indonesia
merugikan saya
me-ru-gi-kan sa-ya
ITItaliano
farmi arrabbiare
far-mee ar-ra-bee-are
KKKK
біздің сезіміне бәй болу
biz-din se-zi-mi-ne bay bo-lu
KMKM
បាត់បង្គំខ្ញុំ
ba-t ba-ng-kum kh-num
KO한국어
나를 화나게 하다
nal-reul hwa-na-ge ha-da
MRMR
माझ्याला राग येणे
ma-jhya-la raag ye-ne
MSBahasa Melayu
menyinggung saya
men-sin-gung sa-ya
MYမြန်မာ
ငါကို စိတ်ကြောင့် ပျက်စီး
nga-ko seet-kya-ng-ht pe-chet-see
NLNederlands
mij op de verkeerde manier aanraken
mi-j op de ver-ke-re-de ma-nier aan-ra-ken
NONorsk
irritere meg
ir-ri-te-re meg
PAPA
ਮੇਰਾ ਰਾਗ ਆਇਆ
me-ra raag a-ya
PLPolski
drażnić mnie
drazh-nic mne-e
PTPortuguês
irritar-me
i-ri-ta-r-me
RORomână
să mă supere
sa ma su-pe-re
RUРусский
бесить меня
besit menya
SVSvenska
göra mig arg
goh-ra mig arg
SWKiswahili
kunifisha mimi
ku-ni-fi-sha mi-mi
TAதமிழ்
எனக்கு கோபம்
e-n-ku ko-pa-m
TEతెలుగు
నాకు కోపం
na-ku ko-pa-m
THไทย
ทำให้ฉันโกรธ
thae-ma chan groht
TLTL
ma-irita ako
ma-i-ri-ta a-ko
TRTürkçe
bana sinir olmak
ba-na si-nir o-lak
UKУкраїнська
зачепити мене
za-che-pi-ti me-ne
URاردو
مجھے ناراض کرنا
mujhe na-raaz karna
VITiếng Việt
khiến tôi tức giận
khien toi tuc gi-an
ZUZU
ngindifisa
ngin-di-fi-sa