drive up the wall

drive up the wall

Meaning

• to make someone angry or irritated
• to annoy someone
• infuriate someone
• to make someone irrational

Example Sentences

1. This stagnant traffic and constant honking is driving me up the wall.
2. The loud music played by my neighbours is driving me up the wall.
3. This question is driving me up the wall. Try as I may, I cannot find the right answer.
4. He quit his job because his boss' constant criticism was driving him up the wall.
5. His tuneless singing and drumming on the table drives me up the wall.
6. The pointless discussion about which religion is better nearly drove me up the wall.
7. He left the party early because all the silly chatter was driving him up the wall.
8. He was driven up the wall by his flat mate's frequent late night parties.

Origin
This phrase refers to someone trying to escape something something by climbing up a wall. It is not known when it was first used.