climb the walls
Become extremely restless
Climb the walls describes a state of extreme restlessness, frustration, or anxiety, often from being confined or unable to act.
Someone climbing the walls feels trapped and desperate for escape or relief.
I've been stuck inside for a week and I'm climbing the walls.
The image suggests agitation so intense that a person might literally try to scale the room's boundaries to get out.
- walk the floorRestlessly tread in place
- run scaredEscape while afraid
- escalateIncrease in severity
- pacingRate of movement
- fidgetingRestless minor movements
can't sit still · agitation · on edge · exasperation · at wit's end · pulling hair out · thrashing · boredom · writhing · tension · cooped up · despair · impatience · cabin fever · stress · stir-crazy · nervousness · ascend
climb the wallskeep one's cool
Maintain emotional control
stay calm · chill out · take it easy · mellow out · keep one's shirt on
climb the wallssit tight
Wait without acting
roll with the punches · bide one's time · grin and bear it · stay put · go with the flow
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