Phrase guide

drive to distraction

verb · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • Received-Pronunciation: /ˌdɹaɪv tə dɪsˈtɹækʃ(ə)n/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • General-American: /ˌdɹaɪv tə dɪsˈtɹækʃən/
  • General-American: /də-/

1

verb

Meaning 1

To annoy (someone) so much that they cannot concentrate.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: excessive, transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

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

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

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

Across languages

Translations

2 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Polish: doprowadzać do szału — to annoy (someone) so much that they cannot concentrate
  • Polish: doprowadzić do szału — to annoy (someone) so much that they cannot concentrate