In the following English question, select the option that best explains the meaning of the idiom “drive someone up the wall”.

Difficulty: Easy

Correct Answer: To make someone very irritated or angry.

Explanation:


Introduction:
The idiom drive someone up the wall is a common expression in everyday English. Questions based on idioms test whether a learner can move beyond literal meanings and understand figurative usage in context. Competitive examinations often include such idiom based questions because they reveal how comfortable candidates are with natural language, spoken English, and real life communication where such phrases regularly appear.


Given Data / Assumptions:

    - The idiom given is drive someone up the wall. - Four alternatives are provided, each offering a possible meaning. - Only one option accurately captures the figurative sense of the idiom. - No specific sentence context is provided, so the standard dictionary meaning must be used.


Concept / Approach:
Idioms are fixed expressions whose meanings cannot be understood by simply translating the individual words. The phrase drive someone up the wall uses a dramatic picture of a person trying to escape by climbing a wall. Figuratively, it refers to a situation where someone feels so annoyed or frustrated that they almost want to escape the situation. Therefore, the correct approach is to recall or deduce the figurative meaning as used in modern English conversations and reading passages.


Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Note that drive someone up the wall is not about literal driving or a physical wall. Step 2: Recall that the idiom is commonly used when something or someone is extremely annoying or irritating. Step 3: Compare this idea with the options and find which one talks about strong irritation or anger. Step 4: Select the option that clearly expresses making someone very irritated or angry.


Verification / Alternative check:
Native usage examples confirm this meaning. For instance, a speaker may say The constant noise is driving me up the wall to express strong irritation. This clearly supports the interpretation that the idiom refers to intense annoyance, not success, escape, or literal movement over an obstacle.


Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option A talks about helping someone achieve success, which has a positive tone and does not include irritation. Option B describes overcoming an obstacle, often a positive achievement, and does not express annoyance. Option C refers to closing someone's path of escape, which might involve trapping someone but not necessarily making them irritated in the idiomatic sense. Only Option D matches the idea of strong irritation or anger.


Common Pitfalls:
Learners often try to interpret idioms literally, which leads to confusion. Another common mistake is choosing an option that sounds dramatic without checking whether it matches standard dictionary usage. It is important to build a habit of learning idioms in phrases and sentences rather than isolating single words.


Final Answer:
To make someone very irritated or angry. is the correct meaning of the idiom drive someone up the wall.

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