drive someone to the wall

present singular third person drives someone to the wall · participle present driving someone to the wall · past drove someone to the wall · participle past driven someone to the wall

1. datedTo push someone to extremities.

   Then we had some further conversation and I drove him to the wall, as I always did in conversation; that is, I rather attacked him; I did attack him.

   1882, Henry H. Alexander, Edward Denison Easton, Report of the Proceedings in the Case of the United States Vs. Charles J. Guiteau, page 497

   1 more example

   The new pupil did not appreciate the rough handling, and, well, he did not exactly lose his temper, but at any rate he attacked suddenly and furiously, and so surprised his teacher that he drove him to the wall.

   1930, Hilda Orchardson Gray, The Life of Sir William Quiller Orchardson