up the pole

phrase

British

: mentally unsound

—used informally in an exaggerated way

The pressure of his job nearly drove him up the pole.

… my mum was up the pole worrying about how she was going to pay the bills.

—Carolyn Leckie

Word History

First Known Use

1904, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for up the pole

• amphibole
• asystole
• buttonhole
• casserole
• centriole
• decontrol
• glycerol
• metropole
• monopole
• multipole
• omeprazole
• oriole