# grind one's gears

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/grind-ones-gears
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

To annoy or irritate one.

## Examples

- 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.

## Origin

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.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.