piss something up the wall

In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.

Sense 1

Meaning · English

To waste or squander (money, talent, opportunity, etc.).

Register: slang, vulgar

Where it’s used: Used American English

Examples

He could have been a pro, but he pissed his talent up the wall.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).

Sense 2

Meaning · English

(specifically) To waste (one's money) on alcoholic drink.

Register: slang, vulgar

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).

Common questions

What does “piss something up the wall” mean?

To waste or squander (money, talent, opportunity, etc.).

Is “piss something up the wall” formal or informal?

piss something up the wall is generally slang, vulgar.