25 Common Sayings And Where They Came From

8. Rub the Wrong Way

Image Credit: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/529735974894181617/
Image Credit: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/529735974894181617/

This means to bother, irritate, or annoy someone. In the time of colonial America, servants were usually required to wet rub and dry-rub the oak board floors every week and it would cause streaks to form when they did it against the grain, making the wood look awful and bothering the homeowner.