To cause someone extreme frustration, irritation, or annoyance to the point where they feel they might lose control. Can also mean to make someone feel intense romantic attraction.
This expression emerged in early 20th century American slang, building on the older meaning of 'crazy' as mentally unbalanced. The driving metaphor suggests being pushed or forced into an undesirable state. The romantic usage developed separately, where 'crazy' meant wildly passionate rather than irritated.
It's intriguing how the same phrase can mean both 'you annoy me intensely' and 'you attract me intensely' - showing how thin the line is between passion and irritation. The 'driving' metaphor is particularly apt because it suggests losing control of direction, whether toward anger or desire. Context is everything with this wonderfully ambiguous expression.
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