up the pole

Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.

Sense 1

Meaning · English

Crazy; at one's wits' end.

Register: slang

Where it’s used: Used American English
Sources & notes

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

Sense 2

Meaning · English

Drunk.

Register: archaic, slang

Sources & notes

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

Common questions

What does “up the pole” mean?

Crazy; at one's wits' end.

Is “up the pole” formal or informal?

up the pole is generally slang.