rub someone the wrong way

From the negative reaction of a cat to being stroked contrary to the direction its fur lies.

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rub someone the wrong way (third-person singular simple present rubs someone the wrong way, present participle rubbing someone the wrong way, simple past and past participle rubbed someone the wrong way)

1. (idiomatic, transitive) To bother, disturb, irritate, or annoy.

   Synonyms: chap someone's hide, raise someone's hackles; see also Thesaurus:annoy

   It's a small thing, really, to leave towels unfolded, but it rubs him the wrong way.

• rub up the wrong way
• take the wrong way