Rubs the wrong way

CHAFES

Think of what happens when skin gets irritated from repeated friction, like with ill-fitting shoes or rough fabric.

"Rubs the wrong way" hints at irritation caused by friction, which is exactly what "chafes" means—whether it’s skin getting sore from rubbing or someone being annoyed. The clue plays on both the literal (physical rubbing) and figurative (annoying someone) senses of the word. It’s a straightforward definition with no hidden wordplay, just a common phrase repurposed to fit the answer.