drive someone up the wall
To make a person very angry or frustrated; to infuriate.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“His loud music drives me up the wall.”
“The constant tapping of his pen during the quiet exam drove me up the wall.”
“The repetitive nature of the task, combined with the manager's constant micromanagement, eventually drove the entire team up the wall.”
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as if someone owns the place
Alternative form of like someone owns the place.
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back to the wall
A very difficult situation with no beneficial options available for action.
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balls to the wall
With maximum effort or commitment.
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bang one's head against a brick wall
To waste effort on a futile project.
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beat someone round the ears
To beat (a person) with blows about the head.
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bless someone with
To give or bestow, as a gift from God.
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blue wall of silence
Strict secretiveness maintained by the members of a police force with respect to information which might be contrary to their interests, especially information concerning questionable police actions.
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bounce off the walls
To be overly active relative to the enclosed space in which one is.
Last updated August 10, 2026