grind one's gears
To annoy or irritate one.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“People who talk loudly on their phones really grind my gears.”
“It really grinds my gears when my coworker leaves the office kitchen a mess after lunch.”
“The constant lack of accountability from management continues to grind the gears of every dedicated employee in the department.”
The phrase originates as an analogy to a mechanical failure within a multispeed internal combustion engine. It describes the physical result of improperly synchronised inputs and outputs during a gear shift, typically caused by driver error or a specific mechanical fault. When the gears are forced to mesh while spinning at disparate speeds, they grind against one another rather than engaging.
The resulting noise is notably harsh and grating. While a single instance of such grinding is merely unpleasant, repeated occurrences allow damage to accumulate within the transmission. The idiom preserves the tactile and auditory irritation of the mechanical clash, though it has since migrated from the gearbox to the temperament.
- 01
abound in one's own sense
To follow one’s own inclinations and opinions.
- 02
ace up one's sleeve
A surprise advantage of which others are not aware.
- 03
act one's age
To behave in a manner appropriate to one's age.
- 04
act one's age, not one's shoe size
Synonym of act one's age (“to behave in a mature manner; to avoid being childish”).
- 05
afraid of one's own shadow
Exceptionally timid.
- 06
air one's dirty laundry in public
To reveal one's sordid secrets to the public.
- 07
air one's dirty linen in public
Synonym of air one's dirty laundry in public.
- 08
albatross around one's neck
A characteristic, possession, associate, or previous deed that hinders one's ability to succeed.
Last updated August 10, 2026