to run up the walls

8.2

To feel very worried and unable to relax

phrasal verb

: estar al borde

When the kids started fighting again, I thought I would run up the walls from the noise.

Examples

When deadlines approach, I often run up the walls.
The stress from work made me run up the walls last month.
He was running up the walls waiting for the test results.
I feel like I'm going to run up the walls!
He was running up the walls while waiting for the test results to come back.
The stress from work made me run up the walls with worry last month.
I feel like I will run up the walls if my children keep arguing.

Synonyms

to run scared

vsto run up the walls

Informal

26 5.7

Act in a nervous way because you are afraid or feel pressure

is broader anxiety causing restlessness not only fear driven

to get uptight

vsto run up the walls

Informal

7 7.7

Feel nervous and tense in stressful situations

is stronger, reaching agitation and restless behaviour from stress

to climb the walls

vsto run up the walls

Informal

2 8.1

To feel very restless and anxious because of boredom or frustration

is extreme restlessness caused by anxiety or stress

to get het up

vsto run up the walls

Archaic

1 9.6

To become too angry or upset about small things

is specific extreme anxiety and restlessness rather than excitement or anger

to get the wind up

vsto run up the walls

1 9.3

To suddenly feel nervous or worried

is more prolonged agitation leading to restlessness rather than sudden nerves

Antonyms

to calm down

Informal

989 1.4

To become less angry, excited, or upset

to settle

729 2.8

To become calm and still after movement or excitement

How Agitated

to run up the walls

8.2

agitated

84 4.1

to calm

∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

run up the walls infinitive

ran up the walls past

ran up the walls past participle

running up the walls present participle

runs up the walls third person singular

Morphology

run + up + the + wall

The phrase evokes a vivid metaphor (physically running up walls) that suggests extreme agitation or restlessness, so learners who know 'run', 'up' and 'wall' may infer a related emotional meaning. However the specific idiomatic sense and intensity are not fully predictable from the literal parts and the construction varies cross-linguistically, so it is only partially transparent to B1 learners.

Etymology

The idiom run up the walls is a picture of someone so upset they seem to run up the walls, moving around and unable to sit still. So, the phrase means 'to feel very anxious, worried, or restless'.