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Words and Their StoriesLearning Expressions with VOA
Processed with VS1Describe choices that differ from what is usual, expected, or widely accepted.
VOA source audio
Source: VOA Learning English · Words and Their Stories
View original article & transcriptThe story starts with the lines in wood and uses them to explain choosing a different direction from the usual one. Going against the grain can mean acting contrary to a custom, a group’s expectations, or one’s own principles; it may take effort or courage.
Cultural note: The phrase can sound admiring when someone acts with conviction, but it can also describe needless opposition. Explain what norm or expectation is being challenged so the listener understands the context.
Keep exploringThink of a time when the popular choice was not the right one for you. Practise explaining your reason without making disagreement personal.
Phrase guide · 5 expressions
Original explanations and examples, created for learners. Save a card for later or hear the phrase spoken by your browser.
Describe a choice that does not follow a familiar pattern.
Meaning
Act or think in a way that differs from what is usual or expected.
Tone & use
Often used when a choice challenges custom, group opinion, or a person’s own principles. The tone depends on whether the difference seems thoughtful or merely oppositional.
Example
“It went against the grain to turn down a promotion, but the new role would have taken her away from the work she loved.”
Meaning
Do what most people are doing rather than deciding independently.
Tone & use
Often mildly critical, especially when a person follows a trend without considering whether it fits.
Example
“Instead of following the crowd, the team compared the evidence before choosing a design.”
Explain why you chose what you believed was right.
Meaning
Keep your position when others pressure you to change it.
Tone & use
Can be literal or figurative. In a disagreement, explain your position calmly; the phrase can sound combative in some contexts.
Example
“She stood her ground and asked the committee to publish the safety results before voting.”
Meaning
Behave or make choices in an independent, unconventional way.
Tone & use
Often warm or admiring, though it can imply that someone does not follow shared expectations.
Example
“He has always marched to the beat of his own drum, choosing projects that interest him rather than chasing trends.”
Talk about resistance or difficulty when taking a different path.
Meaning
Keep moving in a direction that most people or circumstances oppose.
Tone & use
A vivid metaphor for sustained resistance; it can suggest that the effort is tiring.
Example
“Small bookstores sometimes have to swim against the current when large online sellers lower prices.”
Knowledge check
Choose the expression that best fits each situation.
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