against the hair

Prepositional phrase

against the hair

1. (obsolete) In a rough and disagreeable manner; against the grain.
   • c. 1600, William Shakespeare, The Merry Wives of Windsor, Act II, Scene 3,

     He is the wiser man, master doctor: he is a curer of souls, and you a curer of bodies; if you should fight, you go against the hair of your professions.

   • 1644, David Hume, The History of the Houses of Douglas and Angus, Edinburgh, Part II, p. 248,

     But his Army loved him not; all went unwillingly with him, and against the hair.

   • 1663, Samuel Butler, Hudibras, London, Part 2, Canto 3, p. 74,

     And yet hee’l smile, but then beware,

     For sure it is against the hair;