distraction

bored silly

Extremely bored to the point of distraction, frustration, or irritation. I was bored silly listening to that lecture this afternoon.

See also: bore, silly

drive (one) to distraction

1. To render one unable to focus; to distract one. Leave your sister alone—she's got to finish her homework, and you are driving her to distraction.

2. To annoy or frustrate one to the point of exasperation. A week on vacation with my relatives is enough to drive me to distraction. That loud beeping noise is driving me to distraction!

See also: distraction, drive

to distraction

To a point in which one is very upset, irritated, or angry and one is unable to focus as a result. Used especially after the verb "drive." Leave your sister alone—she's got to finish her homework, and you are driving her to distraction.

See also: distraction

bored silly

 and bored to distraction; bored stiff; bored to death; bored to tears

very bored; extremely dull and uninteresting (Usually an exaggeration.) I was bored silly at the lecture. The dull speaker left me bored to distraction. I am bored to tears. Let's go home.

See also: bore, silly

drive someone to distraction

Fig. to confuse or perplex someone. Can't you see you're driving her to distraction? The problems I am having with my boss are driving me to distraction.

See also: distraction, drive

drive someone to distraction

If something or someone drives you to distraction, they annoy you very much. Nothing I said or did would get them to tidy up. It drove me to distraction. His obsessive attention to detail drove to distraction the artists and workers with whom he collaborated. Note: Distraction is an old word for madness.

See also: distraction, drive, someone

to diˈstraction

so that you become upset, excited or angry and not able to think clearly: The children are driving me to distraction today.

See also: distraction