Drive someone up the wall

Meaning:

1. Annoy or irritate someone very much.
2. Put someone into an extreme position or situation. (= force someone up the wall)

If someone or something drives you up the wall, he/she/it annoys you very much or
pushes you to an awkward or extreme position.

Example:

The heat in this apartment drives me up the wall!

The company didn't fix the problem until the government forced it up the wall.

Picture:

This picture was electronically drawn by Erika Aoyama on February 16, 2004.

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Last modified on July 12, 2004