drive to distraction

From drive (“to cause to become”) + to + distraction (“deranged state of mind; insanity”).

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˌdɹaɪv tə dɪsˈtɹækʃ(ə)n/

• Audio (Southern England):

  (file)

• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˌdɹaɪv tə dɪsˈtɹækʃən/, /də-/
• Hyphenation: drive to dis‧tract‧ion

drive to distraction (third-person singular simple present drives to distraction, present participle driving to distraction, simple past drove to distraction, past participle driven to distraction)

1. (transitive, hyperbolic) To annoy (someone) so much that they cannot concentrate.

   Synonyms: drive crazy, drive round the bend, drive up the wall

   • 1855 January 5, Anthony Trollope, The Warden, London: Longman, Brown, Green, and Longmans, →OCLC:

     " […] pray do this for us—pray do not drive to distraction a man who has loved you so well."

• to distraction

• “drive someone to distraction”, in Collins English Dictionary.
• “drive somebody to distraction” in Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, Longman.
• “drive someone to distraction” (US) / “drive someone to distraction” (UK) in Macmillan English Dictionary.