Etymology
edit
(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)
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)
- (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[1], →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[.]