grind one's gears

English

Etymology

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

Verb

grind one's gears (third-person singular simple present grinds one's gears, present participle grinding one's gears, simple past and past participle ground one's gears)

  1. (informal) To annoy or irritate one.
    It really grinds my gears when inconsiderate people litter.
    • 2017 July 17, Charlie Brinkhurst-Cuff, “Is Love Racist? The TV show laying our biases bare”, in The Guardian‎, →ISSN:
      Yes it has a clickbaity title, and yes, this show will grind the gears of thousands – but it should. It will open everyone’s eyes to the segregated world of dating[.]
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