drive someone insane
Push past sanity
To drive someone insane is to cause them to lose their sanity or, more commonly, to irritate them to the point of extreme frustration: That dripping faucet is driving me insane.
The phrase usually appears hyperbolically—actual madness isn't implied, just intense annoyance or exasperation.
Her constant interruptions were driving him insane.
- provocationAct that triggers response
- frustrationDispleasure from blocked efforts
- naggingPersistent bothering or complaining
- stressPressure, mental or vocal
- exasperationIntense weary annoyance
constant nagging · petty annoyances · last straw · breaking point · conflict · passive aggressive · paranoia · mind games · alienation · irritation · neglect · hostility · obsession · delusion · relentlessness · agitation · criticism · torment