Up the Wall: Navigating the Maze of Extreme Annoyance
When someone or something drives you “up the wall,” they’re reaching epic levels of annoyance. It’s as if your exasperation literally scales the vertical realms of your patience.
Related Idioms:
-
Drive up the wall: To irritate or annoy one to the point of desperation.
- Example: My toddler’s incessant questions are driving me up the wall!
-
Up against it: Confronted with a difficult situation.
- Example: After the last minute cuts, we were really up against it to finish the project on time.
Similar Terms and Phrases:
- Jump out of one’s skin: To be extremely startled.
- Lose one’s cool: To become very angry or agitated.
- Rub the wrong way: To irritate or annoy someone.
Synonyms:
- Infuriated
- Exasperated
- Frustrated
- Irked
Antonyms:
- Calm
- Composed
- Unruffled
- Serene
Humor-filled Quotes:
- “Some things are best overdone—making a fuss is not one of them.” – Anonymouse 🐭
Proverbs:
- “Patience is bitter, but its fruit is sweet.” - Greek Proverb
Suggestions for Literature, Books, Songs, Poetry, & Movies:
- Literature: “Catch-22” by Joseph Heller—a humorous yet exasperating take on the ridiculousness of bureaucracy.
- Books: “The Catcher in the Rye” by J.D. Salinger—Holden Caulfield often feels driven “up the wall.”
- Songs: “Under Pressure” by Queen and David Bowie — life’s mounting stresses eloquently put into melodious trappings.
- Poetry: “The Chaos” by Gerard Nolst Trenité—it drives English language learners “up the wall” with its tricky pronunciation.
- Movies: “Office Space”—watch an office drone get driven “up the wall” by workplace absurdities.
### Which idiom is synonymous with "driving up the wall"?
- [x] Losing one's cool
- [ ] Dancing with joy
- [ ] Living on the edge
- [ ] Walking on sunshine
> **Explanation:** "Losing one's cool" refers to becoming very angry or annoyed, much like being driven "up the wall."
### Which phrase denotes being surprisingly startled?
- [ ] Up the wall
- [x] Jump out of one's skin
- [ ] Climbing Mount Everest
- [ ] Floating on air
> **Explanation:** "Jump out of one's skin" means to be extremely startled, which feels surprisingly intense.
### True or False: 'Rubbing someone the wrong way' means to irritate them.
- [x] True
- [ ] False
> **Explanation:** True. "Rubbing someone the wrong way" means to annoy or irritate them.
### "Under pressure" is a song dealing with:
- [x] Stress and frustrations
- [ ] Karaoke nights
- [ ] Romantic escapades
- [ ] Gardening tips
> **Explanation:** "Under Pressure" by Queen and David Bowie deals with stress and frustrations, perfectly complementing the feeling of being driven "up the wall."
### Patience is often described as:
- [ ] Overrated
- [ ] Inimitable
- [ ] A wall graffiti
- [x] Bitter with sweet fruit
> **Explanation:** According to a Greek proverb, "Patience is bitter, but its fruit is sweet," indicating the challenges and rewards of being patient.
Good luck finding tranquility amidst life’s little annoyances! Remember, even when you’re driven “up the wall,” there might just be a brighter view from up there!
Yours lexically,
W. T. Wittywords
Published on 2023-10-01
