drive smd up the wall or up a wall

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ostap77

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I've come to hear both "driving me up the wall" and "driving me up a wall.''
"To make someone angry". Would there be a change in the meaning when using different articles?
 

ostap77

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I've come to hear both "driving me up the wall" and "driving me up a wall.''
"To make someone angry". Would there be a change in the meaning when using different articles?
Could it also mean "upset someone"?
 

Rover_KE

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I've only ever heard to drive somebody up the wall.

You can forget '...drive up a wall'.

It means to infuriate somebody - more than upset him.

Rover
 

ostap77

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I've only ever heard to drive somebody up the wall.

You can forget '...drive up a wall'.

It means to infuriate somebody - more than upset him.

Rover

Don't get me wrong I just want to be sure. I looked it up in "101 American English Idioms" by Harry Collis. It says "drive up a wall"

"They say I drive them up a wall wtih all the loud banging"?
 

Rover_KE

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Don't get me wrong I just want to be sure. I looked it up in "101 American English Idioms" by Harry Collis. It says "drive up a wall"

"They say I drive them up a wall wtih all the loud banging"?

Fair enough. I speak BE.

Rover
 
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