climb the walls

Idioms  

1. Show extreme frustration, impatience, or anxiety, as in That long, boring banquet made me want to climb the walls, or If he says that one more time I'll be ready to climb the walls. Although describing a military maneuver dating from ancient times, this slangy phrase has been used figuratively to express strong negative feeling only since about 1970. Also see under drive someone crazy.

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Example Sentences

As Morsell watched the protesters climb the walls of the building, he recalled conversations this summer about social injustice in this country.

From Washington Post

“The idea that the protesters today were able to get all the way up there, climb the walls and storm the Capitol, was unbelievable to me,” Violet said of Wednesday’s riots.

From Seattle Times

Some protesters tried to climb the walls of the parliament building and threw rocks at the military, which deployed tear gas against the crowd.

From Washington Post

Instead, organizers said Tokyo 2020 staff would climb the walls to “test operational readiness”.

From Reuters

Don't climb the walls or fences, and enjoy the views from safety.

From Scientific American