drive someone up the wall
Meaning
To irritate or frustrate someone extremely; to make someone feel they can’t stand it anymore.
Origin
From the idea of being so annoyed you feel forced to climb the walls or act wildly. The “climb the walls” metaphor for agitation dates to early 20th century; this phrasing became common mid-20th.
Notes
Colloquial and fairly strong: implies intense irritation and being near your limit. Used in casual speech; saying it directly to someone can sound accusatory or rude.
Examples
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The constant tapping from the сосед next door is driving me up the wall.
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His habit of leaving dirty dishes in the sink drives his roommates up the wall.
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The app keeps crashing every five minutes, and it’s driving me up the wall.
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Stop interrupting me—you're driving me up the wall.
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Waiting on hold for an hour drove her up the wall.
Grammar & Usage Notes
Pattern: “drive + person + up the wall.” Object pronoun changes (drive me/him/them...). Tense changes on “drive” (drove/has driven). Often with causes: “The noise drives me up the wall.”
Synonyms
- annoy
- irritate
- infuriate
- make someone crazy
- drive someone nuts
- drive someone mad
- get on someone's nerves
Antonyms
- calm someone down
- soothe
- put someone at ease
- comfort