Idiom meaning, usage examples, facts

1. Sarah doesn’t know what it is about that man, but she just doesn’t like him. No matter what he says or does, he rubs her the wrong way.
2. I wish I could just ignore Robert’s irritating habits, but I can’t stand to be around him. He rubs me the wrong way.

Compare to: bug; set (someone’s) teeth on edge; get (someone’s) dander up; get (someone’s) goat. Whereas bug, get someone’s goat and get someone’s dander up can be used to describe a specific irritation or annoyance caused by either someone or something, rub someone the wrong way usually describes a clash of personalities that is more general, going beyond a single event or reason.