Where did the phrase 'Driving me nuts' come from??

Answer 1

1) the use of "nuts" as "crazy"

This use is first attested 1846, from earlier be nuts upon (a person) "be very fond of" or "delighted with" (1785), which is possibly from nuts, meaning "any source of pleasure" (1617).
Similarly being "nutty" could be used with the meaning "amorous, fond, enthusiastic, usually const. 'upon' a person" (1821)

This use of "nuts" and "nutty" is probably basefd on the more literal sense of "nutty" as "pleasant, rich, full of zest or flavor"

From here to the sense of "nuts" or "nutty" as insane, consider how in the more modern expression "be nuts about" (infatuated) may mentally at least a bit off (compare "I'm crazy about/for you")

Historically, this meaning may also have been influenced by metaphoric application of nut to "head" [because of its hardness?](1846), and the expressionbe off one's nut meaning "be insane" (1860).

http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?l=n&p=9
Oxford English Dictionary, s.v., "nut", "nutty"

2) As for expressions like "DRIVE one nuts/crazy/wild" or "drive one to drink", this is simply a slightly extended use of "drive" in the sense of "propel, force"

Drive (verb)
1. To push, propel, or press onward forcibly; urge forward
. . ..
**7. To force into or from a particular act or state, e.g., "Indecision drives me crazy."

http://www.thefreedictionary.com/dict.asp?Word=drive

Answer 2

'Nuts' is another word for 'mad'. We can also say 'driving me bonker', 'driving me spare' (from 'to dispair'), or simply 'It's driving me insane.

I guess the word 'nuts' itself is a shortening of 'nutty', which means a little crazy. I can't tell you precisely which English speaking area it comes from though...

Answer 3

I don't know, but I think my siblings and I have dibs on the "Your driving me up a wall or to drink" to our mother back in the 60's.

Answer 4

because when people first invented cars other people thought cars were crazy, hence the people driving them were crazy (nuts) and then it became more personal

Answer 5

I dunno but it reminds me of a joke...

A pirate walks into a bar, and the barkeep says "Excuse me, cap'n, but did you know that you've got your ship's wheel stuck in your pantaloons?"

"Aye," says the pirate, "that thing be drivin' me nuts! Aaargh!"