Meaning Of Idiom “Drive Someone Up the Wall”
To drive someone up the wall means to greatly annoy, irritate, or exasperate in a way that distracts them.
Driving someone up the wall is similar to getting on someone’s nerves or driving someone crazy, bananas, or bonkers. The definite article “the” is common but the indefinite “a” can also be used.
Sentence Examples
“My mother in law is driving me up the wall. She insists on cleaning everything top to bottom no matter how clean is already is.”
“These solicitors keep knocking on my door over and over. It’s driving me up the wall.”
“Could you please stop playing that violin. It’s driving me up the wall.”
“Nag, nag, nag. That’s all you do. It drives me up a wall.”
“You’re jealous. You no longer have a say-so in what l do and that drives you up the wall. You’re ready to spit nails because you can’t call the shots.” — Steel Magnolias (1989)
“Well, what were you up to the last three days?” “Nothing. I stayed at home.” “Oh well! That’s enough to drive anyone up the wall! You ought to go out. Go to a movies, or something.” — Repulsion (1965)
“Can we change the music? My mother spends all clay listening to this folk stuff. Drives me up a wall.” — Torrente 4 (2011)
“There is a certain romanticism in your mother that drives me up a wall. All of us, because there’s a lack of realism. She’s so impractical. – So impractical.” — My Architect (2003)
Origin Of Drive Someone Up the Wall
The first known use of the idiom “drive someone up the wall” was in 1952. The verb drive is not used to refer to steering a motor vehicle. Drive is used in the sense of to compel, carry along, or force. Thus, the idiom alludes to irritating someone so much that they are willing to climb the walls to escape.