What is "against the grain"

Grain \Grain\ (gr[=a]n), n. [F. grain, L. granum, grain, seed, small kernel, small particle. See Corn, and cf. Garner, n., Garnet, Gram the chick-pea, Granule, Kernel.]

1. A single small hard seed; a kernel, especially of those plants, like wheat, whose seeds are used for food.

2. The fruit of certain grasses which furnish the chief food of man, as corn, wheat, rye, oats, etc., or the plants themselves; -- used collectively.

   Storehouses crammed with grain.
   --Shak.

3. Any small, hard particle, as of sand, sugar, salt, etc.; hence, any minute portion or particle; as, a grain of gunpowder, of pollen, of starch, of sense, of wit, etc.

   I . . . with a grain of manhood well resolved.
   --Milton.

4. The unit of the English system of weights; -- so called because considered equal to the average of grains taken from the middle of the ears of wheat. 7,000 grains constitute the pound avoirdupois, and 5,760 grains the pound troy. A grain is equal to .0648 gram. See Gram.

5. A reddish dye made from the coccus insect, or kermes; hence, a red color of any tint or hue, as crimson, scarlet, etc.; sometimes used by the poets as equivalent to Tyrian purple.

   All in a robe of darkest grain.
   --Milton.

   Doing as the dyers do, who, having first dipped their silks in colors of less value, then give' them the last tincture of crimson in grain.
   --Quoted by Coleridge, preface to Aids to Reflection.

6. The composite particles of any substance; that arrangement of the particles of any body which determines its comparative roughness or hardness; texture; as, marble, sugar, sandstone, etc., of fine grain.

   Hard box, and linden of a softer grain.
   --Dryden.

7. The direction, arrangement, or appearance of the fibers in wood, or of the strata in stone, slate, etc.

   Knots, by the conflux of meeting sap, Infect the sound pine and divert his grain Tortive and errant from his course of growth.
   --Shak.

8. The fiber which forms the substance of wood or of any fibrous material.

9. The hair side of a piece of leather, or the marking on that side.
   --Knight.

10. pl. The remains of grain, etc., after brewing or distillation; hence, any residuum. Also called draff.

11. (Bot.) A rounded prominence on the back of a sepal, as in the common dock. See Grained, a., 4.

12. Temper; natural disposition; inclination. [Obs.]

    Brothers . . . not united in grain.
    --Hayward.

13. A sort of spice, the grain of paradise. [Obs.] He cheweth grain and licorice, To smellen sweet. --Chaucer. Against the grain, against or across the direction of the fibers; hence, against one's wishes or tastes; unwillingly; unpleasantly; reluctantly; with difficulty. --Swift. --Saintsbury. A grain of allowance, a slight indulgence or latitude a small allowance. Grain binder, an attachment to a harvester for binding the grain into sheaves. Grain colors, dyes made from the coccus or kermes insect. Grain leather.

    1. Dressed horse hides.

    2. Goat, seal, and other skins blacked on the grain side for women's shoes, etc.

       Grain moth (Zo["o]l.), one of several small moths, of the family Tineid[ae] (as Tinea granella and Butalis cerealella), whose larv[ae] devour grain in storehouses.

       Grain side (Leather), the side of a skin or hide from which the hair has been removed; -- opposed to flesh side.

       Grains of paradise, the seeds of a species of amomum.

       grain tin, crystalline tin ore metallic tin smelted with charcoal.

       Grain weevil (Zo["o]l.), a small red weevil ( Sitophilus granarius), which destroys stored wheat and other grain, by eating out the interior.

       Grain worm (Zo["o]l.), the larva of the grain moth. See grain moth, above.

       In grain, of a fast color; deeply seated; fixed; innate; genuine. ``Anguish in grain.''
       --Herbert.

       To dye in grain, to dye of a fast color by means of the coccus or kermes grain [see Grain, n., 5]; hence, to dye firmly; also, to dye in the wool, or in the raw material. See under Dye.

       The red roses flush up in her cheeks . . . Likce crimson dyed in grain.
       --Spenser.

       To go against the grain of (a person), to be repugnant to; to vex, irritate, mortify, or trouble.

prep.phr. 1 (context woodworking of sanding or planing a piece of wood English) Preventing a smooth, level surface from being formed by raising the nap of the wood or causing larger splinters to form ahead of the cutting tool below the cutting surface. 2 (context idiomatic English) Contrary to what is expected; especially, of behavior different from what society expects. 3 (context idiomatic English) Unwillingly, reluctantly; contrary to one's nature.

Against the Grain may refer to:

Against The Grain, Acoustic Alchemy's 7th album, was released in 1994 under the GRP label.

Despite having only ten tracks, "Against The Grain" still manages to notch up a total play time of 53 minutes, notably because of the band's experimentation with some longer, more drawn out tracks.

The most successful effort from this release was "Lazeez", a popular live favourite, and is one of two tracks from this album to appear on the compilation album, "The Very Best Of Acoustic Alchemy" (2002).

Against the Grain is an American dramatic television series that aired on NBC from October to December 1993 starring John Terry, Donna Bullock, Robyn Lively, Ben Affleck, and Vanessa Lee Evigan. The show was inspired by Buzz Bissinger's book Friday Night Lights: A Town, A Team, and a Dream.

Against the Grain is the fifth album (and seventh release overall) by punk rock band Bad Religion released on November 23, 1990. This was the last album recorded with drummer Pete Finestone who left in 1991 to concentrate with his new project The Fishermen. Following his departure, the band's music would take a different direction on their next album, 1992's Generator. Against the Grain was also the first Bad Religion album not to feature a lineup change from after two consecutive studio albums.

Like Bad Religion's previous two albums, Suffer and No Control, and subsequent album, Generator, Against the Grain is considered by many to be the band's greatest album, and it contains many songs that are constantly cited as the band's best, including "Faith Alone", " 21st Century (Digital Boy)", "Anesthesia", "Against the Grain", "God Song" and "Modern Man". Other favorites are "Get Off", "Flat Earth Society", and "Walk Away", but are rarely played live. "Walk Away" has never been played live once. Despite no promotion by radio and television, Against The Grain managed to sell over 100,000 copies. A tiny part of the album's title track is played in a segment of the same name on The Dan Patrick Show.

Against the Grain is the fourth studio album by rapper Kurupt and his first on Death Row Records as a solo artist. Kurupt signed back on to Death Row Records, except as a solo artist in 2002. The album was supposed to be released in 2004, but was delayed. It was finally released in August 2005. It was critical because it was Death Row's first freshly recorded album in over 4 years. Unfortunately, the album went almost unnoticed due to the lack of promotion by Koch Records, which currently distributes all of Death Row's albums. Furthermore, Death Row encouraged fans to not purchase this album because the track list was altered. Certain tracks were removed and others added. It did peak at number 60 on the Billboard 200 on September 2005. The cut tracks were later released on a bootleg compilation titled Against tha Grain E.P.. The track "Calico" featuring The Dayton Family was also on their album Family Feud

Against the Grain is a 1975 studio album by Irish musician Rory Gallagher. It was his first album with his new record company Chrysalis. The album is mostly new songs written by Gallagher as well as some classic blues and R&B numbers. In contrast to previous studio albums by Gallagher it received very favorable reviews.

Against the Grain is a syndicated Pacifica Radio program of radical ideas and action. The show originates out of the studios of KPFA-FM, the flagship station in the Pacifica Radio Network. Against the Grain focuses on in-depth analysis and commentary by some of the most prominent Left intellectuals today, on a variety of matters—political, economic, social and cultural—important to progressive and radical thinking and activism, such as environmental issues, political economics, the global justice movement, philosophical and cultural ideas, and race and gender relations.

Against the Grain is the debut album from The Veer Union under their current name. They did release one previous album, Time to Break the Spell, under the name "Veer". The album was released on April 21, 2009. Three singles were released from the album, "Seasons", "Youth of Yesterday", and "Darker Side of Me".

Against the Grain is a greatest hits album from the Australian folk-rock group Redgum.

As of 2012, it is one of only three Redgum albums available on CD, the others being Caught in the Act, and another best of album, The Essential Redgum.

Against the Grain is the fifth album by singer–songwriter Phoebe Snow, released in 1978.