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THE IDIOM COLLECTION LEARN & PRACTISE

Drive someone up the wall

Understand the meaning. See it in context. Make it yours.

01 / UNDERSTAND

Meaning in plain English

To make someone extremely annoyed or angry.

02 / SEE IT IN CONTEXT

The expression in a sentence

  1. The constant tapping is driving me up the wall.

03 / CHECK YOUR UNDERSTANDING

Quick idiom quiz

Try the question without looking back, then write a sentence of your own. You can retry as often as you like.

Can you recall the expression?

Which expression from this lesson matches this meaning?

To make someone extremely annoyed or angry.
Show the answer

Drive someone up the wall — To make someone extremely annoyed or angry.

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Make it yours

Write one sentence using “Drive someone up the wall” about your own life.

Check your sentence

Does your sentence match this meaning?

To make someone extremely annoyed or angry.

Compare: The constant tapping is driving me up the wall.

Check the spelling and how the expression fits the sentence. Your example can be different.

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More ways to understand and use it

When to use it

Use it informally to complain strongly about an irritating habit or situation. It can sound harsh if directed at a person.

More examples in context

  • That booking website drove us up the wall by losing every entry.
  • His habit of interrupting can drive the whole team up the wall.

Usage note

The annoying thing is the subject, and the affected person is the object: “The noise drives me up the wall.” The past tense is drove.

A short conversation

A: Why did you move to the quieter room?
B: The repeated alerts were driving me up the wall.
A: I will silence mine while we work.

One more practice question

Which feeling does “The noise is driving me up the wall” express?

A. Complete enjoyment and relaxation.
B. Strong annoyance or anger.

Check your answer

B. The expression describes extreme irritation.

Related lessons

Meaning and usage checked against Cambridge Dictionary. Explanations, examples and conversation are original.

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