up the wall


up the wall

In a state of intense frustration, vexation, distress, or anxiety. I've been up the wall trying to get this problem with my tax bill resolved. That car alarm next door is driving me up the wall!See also: up, wall

up the wall

Fig. in a very bad situation; very upset or anxious. He's really up the wall about Mary's illness. We were all up the wall until the matter was resolved.See also: up, wall

up the wall

see under drive someone crazy. See also: up, wall

up the wall

mod. in a very bad situation. We were all up the wall until the matter was resolved. See also: up, wall

up the wall

Slang Into a state of extreme frustration, anger, or distress: tensions that are driving me up the wall.See also: up, wall

up against it/the wall

In trouble. This slangy Americanism of the late nineteenth century uses “it” in a general way to mean any kind of difficulty. When “the wall” is substituted, it may refer to the practice of lining criminals up against a wall, or, more likely, of having one’s back to the wall. “I saw I was up against it,” wrote George Ade (Artie, 1896).See also: up, wall