Help to understand “It drives Mum mad” in this passage

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“What does your dad do at the Ministry of Magic, anyway?”



“He works in the most boring department,” said Ron. “The Misuse of
Muggle Artifacts Office.”



“The what?”



“It's all to do with bewitching things that are Muggle-made, you know,
in case they end up back in a Muggle shop or house. Like, last year,
some old witch died and her tea set was sold to an antiques shop. This
Muggle woman bought it, took it home, and tried to serve her friends
tea in it. It was a nightmare - Dad was working overtime for weeks.”



“What happened?”



“The teapot went berserk and squirted boiling tea all over the place
and one man ended up in the hospital with the sugar tongs clamped to
his nose. Dad was going frantic - it's only him and an old warlock
called Perkins in the office - and they had to do Memory Charms and
all sorts of stuff to cover it up—”



"But your dad ... this car ..." (Harry said)



Fred Laughed. "Yeah, Dad's mad about everything to do with Muggles, our shed's full of Muggle stuff. He takes it apart, puts spells on it and puts it back together again. If he raided our house he'd have to put himself straight under arrest. It drives Mum mad. "




As I understand, Fred is saying that his dad takes Muggle stuff apart, puts spells and puts it back together again and If anyone broke into their house, he would be put straight under arrest. But I don't understand why it drives Mum mad?



Maybe I just got something wrong from the original passage?



-- Excerpted from Harry Potter.










share|improve this question























  • I think the word "it" in the last sentence in the paragraph you excerpted from Harry Potter can refer to the situation of Dad is arrested. I mean Mum would be mad if Dad were arrested. Is that what you did not figure out? ( I haven't read the book so I cannot give elaborate answer.)
    – Mrt
    3 hours ago











  • @Mrt, Yeah, you might be right. But why did his father have to raid their own house?
    – dan
    3 hours ago










  • I am not sure but just from the context you provided, I can infer that "Dad hates Muggles" because Fred says " Dad is mad about everything to do with Muggles..."
    – Mrt
    3 hours ago










  • @Mrt, I just added more context that might be relevant. The rest of it seems not relevant.
    – dan
    3 hours ago






  • 1




    However, when it "drives Mum mad" it makes her angry. These are the two different ways of using the word. mad about something :: like something very much; be a fan –– something drives me mad :: something makes me angry
    – Karl
    14 mins ago

















up vote
2
down vote

favorite













“What does your dad do at the Ministry of Magic, anyway?”



“He works in the most boring department,” said Ron. “The Misuse of
Muggle Artifacts Office.”



“The what?”



“It's all to do with bewitching things that are Muggle-made, you know,
in case they end up back in a Muggle shop or house. Like, last year,
some old witch died and her tea set was sold to an antiques shop. This
Muggle woman bought it, took it home, and tried to serve her friends
tea in it. It was a nightmare - Dad was working overtime for weeks.”



“What happened?”



“The teapot went berserk and squirted boiling tea all over the place
and one man ended up in the hospital with the sugar tongs clamped to
his nose. Dad was going frantic - it's only him and an old warlock
called Perkins in the office - and they had to do Memory Charms and
all sorts of stuff to cover it up—”



"But your dad ... this car ..." (Harry said)



Fred Laughed. "Yeah, Dad's mad about everything to do with Muggles, our shed's full of Muggle stuff. He takes it apart, puts spells on it and puts it back together again. If he raided our house he'd have to put himself straight under arrest. It drives Mum mad. "




As I understand, Fred is saying that his dad takes Muggle stuff apart, puts spells and puts it back together again and If anyone broke into their house, he would be put straight under arrest. But I don't understand why it drives Mum mad?



Maybe I just got something wrong from the original passage?



-- Excerpted from Harry Potter.










share|improve this question























  • I think the word "it" in the last sentence in the paragraph you excerpted from Harry Potter can refer to the situation of Dad is arrested. I mean Mum would be mad if Dad were arrested. Is that what you did not figure out? ( I haven't read the book so I cannot give elaborate answer.)
    – Mrt
    3 hours ago











  • @Mrt, Yeah, you might be right. But why did his father have to raid their own house?
    – dan
    3 hours ago










  • I am not sure but just from the context you provided, I can infer that "Dad hates Muggles" because Fred says " Dad is mad about everything to do with Muggles..."
    – Mrt
    3 hours ago










  • @Mrt, I just added more context that might be relevant. The rest of it seems not relevant.
    – dan
    3 hours ago






  • 1




    However, when it "drives Mum mad" it makes her angry. These are the two different ways of using the word. mad about something :: like something very much; be a fan –– something drives me mad :: something makes me angry
    – Karl
    14 mins ago













up vote
2
down vote

favorite









up vote
2
down vote

favorite












“What does your dad do at the Ministry of Magic, anyway?”



“He works in the most boring department,” said Ron. “The Misuse of
Muggle Artifacts Office.”



“The what?”



“It's all to do with bewitching things that are Muggle-made, you know,
in case they end up back in a Muggle shop or house. Like, last year,
some old witch died and her tea set was sold to an antiques shop. This
Muggle woman bought it, took it home, and tried to serve her friends
tea in it. It was a nightmare - Dad was working overtime for weeks.”



“What happened?”



“The teapot went berserk and squirted boiling tea all over the place
and one man ended up in the hospital with the sugar tongs clamped to
his nose. Dad was going frantic - it's only him and an old warlock
called Perkins in the office - and they had to do Memory Charms and
all sorts of stuff to cover it up—”



"But your dad ... this car ..." (Harry said)



Fred Laughed. "Yeah, Dad's mad about everything to do with Muggles, our shed's full of Muggle stuff. He takes it apart, puts spells on it and puts it back together again. If he raided our house he'd have to put himself straight under arrest. It drives Mum mad. "




As I understand, Fred is saying that his dad takes Muggle stuff apart, puts spells and puts it back together again and If anyone broke into their house, he would be put straight under arrest. But I don't understand why it drives Mum mad?



Maybe I just got something wrong from the original passage?



-- Excerpted from Harry Potter.










share|improve this question
















“What does your dad do at the Ministry of Magic, anyway?”



“He works in the most boring department,” said Ron. “The Misuse of
Muggle Artifacts Office.”



“The what?”



“It's all to do with bewitching things that are Muggle-made, you know,
in case they end up back in a Muggle shop or house. Like, last year,
some old witch died and her tea set was sold to an antiques shop. This
Muggle woman bought it, took it home, and tried to serve her friends
tea in it. It was a nightmare - Dad was working overtime for weeks.”



“What happened?”



“The teapot went berserk and squirted boiling tea all over the place
and one man ended up in the hospital with the sugar tongs clamped to
his nose. Dad was going frantic - it's only him and an old warlock
called Perkins in the office - and they had to do Memory Charms and
all sorts of stuff to cover it up—”



"But your dad ... this car ..." (Harry said)



Fred Laughed. "Yeah, Dad's mad about everything to do with Muggles, our shed's full of Muggle stuff. He takes it apart, puts spells on it and puts it back together again. If he raided our house he'd have to put himself straight under arrest. It drives Mum mad. "




As I understand, Fred is saying that his dad takes Muggle stuff apart, puts spells and puts it back together again and If anyone broke into their house, he would be put straight under arrest. But I don't understand why it drives Mum mad?



Maybe I just got something wrong from the original passage?



-- Excerpted from Harry Potter.







reading-comprehension






share|improve this question















share|improve this question













share|improve this question




share|improve this question








edited 3 hours ago

























asked 4 hours ago









dan

2,54021645




2,54021645











  • I think the word "it" in the last sentence in the paragraph you excerpted from Harry Potter can refer to the situation of Dad is arrested. I mean Mum would be mad if Dad were arrested. Is that what you did not figure out? ( I haven't read the book so I cannot give elaborate answer.)
    – Mrt
    3 hours ago











  • @Mrt, Yeah, you might be right. But why did his father have to raid their own house?
    – dan
    3 hours ago










  • I am not sure but just from the context you provided, I can infer that "Dad hates Muggles" because Fred says " Dad is mad about everything to do with Muggles..."
    – Mrt
    3 hours ago










  • @Mrt, I just added more context that might be relevant. The rest of it seems not relevant.
    – dan
    3 hours ago






  • 1




    However, when it "drives Mum mad" it makes her angry. These are the two different ways of using the word. mad about something :: like something very much; be a fan –– something drives me mad :: something makes me angry
    – Karl
    14 mins ago

















  • I think the word "it" in the last sentence in the paragraph you excerpted from Harry Potter can refer to the situation of Dad is arrested. I mean Mum would be mad if Dad were arrested. Is that what you did not figure out? ( I haven't read the book so I cannot give elaborate answer.)
    – Mrt
    3 hours ago











  • @Mrt, Yeah, you might be right. But why did his father have to raid their own house?
    – dan
    3 hours ago










  • I am not sure but just from the context you provided, I can infer that "Dad hates Muggles" because Fred says " Dad is mad about everything to do with Muggles..."
    – Mrt
    3 hours ago










  • @Mrt, I just added more context that might be relevant. The rest of it seems not relevant.
    – dan
    3 hours ago






  • 1




    However, when it "drives Mum mad" it makes her angry. These are the two different ways of using the word. mad about something :: like something very much; be a fan –– something drives me mad :: something makes me angry
    – Karl
    14 mins ago
















I think the word "it" in the last sentence in the paragraph you excerpted from Harry Potter can refer to the situation of Dad is arrested. I mean Mum would be mad if Dad were arrested. Is that what you did not figure out? ( I haven't read the book so I cannot give elaborate answer.)
– Mrt
3 hours ago





I think the word "it" in the last sentence in the paragraph you excerpted from Harry Potter can refer to the situation of Dad is arrested. I mean Mum would be mad if Dad were arrested. Is that what you did not figure out? ( I haven't read the book so I cannot give elaborate answer.)
– Mrt
3 hours ago













@Mrt, Yeah, you might be right. But why did his father have to raid their own house?
– dan
3 hours ago




@Mrt, Yeah, you might be right. But why did his father have to raid their own house?
– dan
3 hours ago












I am not sure but just from the context you provided, I can infer that "Dad hates Muggles" because Fred says " Dad is mad about everything to do with Muggles..."
– Mrt
3 hours ago




I am not sure but just from the context you provided, I can infer that "Dad hates Muggles" because Fred says " Dad is mad about everything to do with Muggles..."
– Mrt
3 hours ago












@Mrt, I just added more context that might be relevant. The rest of it seems not relevant.
– dan
3 hours ago




@Mrt, I just added more context that might be relevant. The rest of it seems not relevant.
– dan
3 hours ago




1




1




However, when it "drives Mum mad" it makes her angry. These are the two different ways of using the word. mad about something :: like something very much; be a fan –– something drives me mad :: something makes me angry
– Karl
14 mins ago





However, when it "drives Mum mad" it makes her angry. These are the two different ways of using the word. mad about something :: like something very much; be a fan –– something drives me mad :: something makes me angry
– Karl
14 mins ago











1 Answer
1






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oldest

votes

















up vote
3
down vote













Mum is mad because the shed and house are overflowing with "Muggle stuff." Dad is bringing all his work home, and he's making a big mess with illegal things. It's unkempt and unseemly, and it might be a source of embarrassment to Mum -- not to mention potentially dangerous to anyone who comes in contact with the contraband.






share|improve this answer




















  • So Dad loved those muggle stuff so much that he brought them to home. Their house and shed are full of them. In "If he raided our house he'd have to put himself straight under arrest. ", 'he' is not referring to Dad, but anyone who might potentially raid their house for those bewitched muggle stuff. Is my understanding correct?
    – dan
    55 mins ago






  • 1




    @dan "He" refers to Dad. If he, as a sort of Wizard Cop, raids HIS OWN house, he'd have to put HIMSELF under arrest because he keeps ilegal Muggle stuff. [Not shouting, using caps to emphasize some words]
    – RubioRic
    34 mins ago










  • Yes. @RubioRic is right here. It is hypothetical. Imagine a Police officer who is also a criminal and has a house full of stolen items. IF he were to do his job and raid his house, he would have to arrest himself!
    – Karl
    17 mins ago










  • @RubioRic The line "in case they end up back in a Muggle shop or house" tells us it's illegal for a Muggle house to keep bewitching things. But I suppose their house might be ok because they are not Muggles, right?
    – dan
    3 mins ago










Your Answer







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1 Answer
1






active

oldest

votes








1 Answer
1






active

oldest

votes









active

oldest

votes






active

oldest

votes








up vote
3
down vote













Mum is mad because the shed and house are overflowing with "Muggle stuff." Dad is bringing all his work home, and he's making a big mess with illegal things. It's unkempt and unseemly, and it might be a source of embarrassment to Mum -- not to mention potentially dangerous to anyone who comes in contact with the contraband.






share|improve this answer




















  • So Dad loved those muggle stuff so much that he brought them to home. Their house and shed are full of them. In "If he raided our house he'd have to put himself straight under arrest. ", 'he' is not referring to Dad, but anyone who might potentially raid their house for those bewitched muggle stuff. Is my understanding correct?
    – dan
    55 mins ago






  • 1




    @dan "He" refers to Dad. If he, as a sort of Wizard Cop, raids HIS OWN house, he'd have to put HIMSELF under arrest because he keeps ilegal Muggle stuff. [Not shouting, using caps to emphasize some words]
    – RubioRic
    34 mins ago










  • Yes. @RubioRic is right here. It is hypothetical. Imagine a Police officer who is also a criminal and has a house full of stolen items. IF he were to do his job and raid his house, he would have to arrest himself!
    – Karl
    17 mins ago










  • @RubioRic The line "in case they end up back in a Muggle shop or house" tells us it's illegal for a Muggle house to keep bewitching things. But I suppose their house might be ok because they are not Muggles, right?
    – dan
    3 mins ago














up vote
3
down vote













Mum is mad because the shed and house are overflowing with "Muggle stuff." Dad is bringing all his work home, and he's making a big mess with illegal things. It's unkempt and unseemly, and it might be a source of embarrassment to Mum -- not to mention potentially dangerous to anyone who comes in contact with the contraband.






share|improve this answer




















  • So Dad loved those muggle stuff so much that he brought them to home. Their house and shed are full of them. In "If he raided our house he'd have to put himself straight under arrest. ", 'he' is not referring to Dad, but anyone who might potentially raid their house for those bewitched muggle stuff. Is my understanding correct?
    – dan
    55 mins ago






  • 1




    @dan "He" refers to Dad. If he, as a sort of Wizard Cop, raids HIS OWN house, he'd have to put HIMSELF under arrest because he keeps ilegal Muggle stuff. [Not shouting, using caps to emphasize some words]
    – RubioRic
    34 mins ago










  • Yes. @RubioRic is right here. It is hypothetical. Imagine a Police officer who is also a criminal and has a house full of stolen items. IF he were to do his job and raid his house, he would have to arrest himself!
    – Karl
    17 mins ago










  • @RubioRic The line "in case they end up back in a Muggle shop or house" tells us it's illegal for a Muggle house to keep bewitching things. But I suppose their house might be ok because they are not Muggles, right?
    – dan
    3 mins ago












up vote
3
down vote










up vote
3
down vote









Mum is mad because the shed and house are overflowing with "Muggle stuff." Dad is bringing all his work home, and he's making a big mess with illegal things. It's unkempt and unseemly, and it might be a source of embarrassment to Mum -- not to mention potentially dangerous to anyone who comes in contact with the contraband.






share|improve this answer












Mum is mad because the shed and house are overflowing with "Muggle stuff." Dad is bringing all his work home, and he's making a big mess with illegal things. It's unkempt and unseemly, and it might be a source of embarrassment to Mum -- not to mention potentially dangerous to anyone who comes in contact with the contraband.







share|improve this answer












share|improve this answer



share|improve this answer










answered 1 hour ago









Ringo

6,5501127




6,5501127











  • So Dad loved those muggle stuff so much that he brought them to home. Their house and shed are full of them. In "If he raided our house he'd have to put himself straight under arrest. ", 'he' is not referring to Dad, but anyone who might potentially raid their house for those bewitched muggle stuff. Is my understanding correct?
    – dan
    55 mins ago






  • 1




    @dan "He" refers to Dad. If he, as a sort of Wizard Cop, raids HIS OWN house, he'd have to put HIMSELF under arrest because he keeps ilegal Muggle stuff. [Not shouting, using caps to emphasize some words]
    – RubioRic
    34 mins ago










  • Yes. @RubioRic is right here. It is hypothetical. Imagine a Police officer who is also a criminal and has a house full of stolen items. IF he were to do his job and raid his house, he would have to arrest himself!
    – Karl
    17 mins ago










  • @RubioRic The line "in case they end up back in a Muggle shop or house" tells us it's illegal for a Muggle house to keep bewitching things. But I suppose their house might be ok because they are not Muggles, right?
    – dan
    3 mins ago
















  • So Dad loved those muggle stuff so much that he brought them to home. Their house and shed are full of them. In "If he raided our house he'd have to put himself straight under arrest. ", 'he' is not referring to Dad, but anyone who might potentially raid their house for those bewitched muggle stuff. Is my understanding correct?
    – dan
    55 mins ago






  • 1




    @dan "He" refers to Dad. If he, as a sort of Wizard Cop, raids HIS OWN house, he'd have to put HIMSELF under arrest because he keeps ilegal Muggle stuff. [Not shouting, using caps to emphasize some words]
    – RubioRic
    34 mins ago










  • Yes. @RubioRic is right here. It is hypothetical. Imagine a Police officer who is also a criminal and has a house full of stolen items. IF he were to do his job and raid his house, he would have to arrest himself!
    – Karl
    17 mins ago










  • @RubioRic The line "in case they end up back in a Muggle shop or house" tells us it's illegal for a Muggle house to keep bewitching things. But I suppose their house might be ok because they are not Muggles, right?
    – dan
    3 mins ago















So Dad loved those muggle stuff so much that he brought them to home. Their house and shed are full of them. In "If he raided our house he'd have to put himself straight under arrest. ", 'he' is not referring to Dad, but anyone who might potentially raid their house for those bewitched muggle stuff. Is my understanding correct?
– dan
55 mins ago




So Dad loved those muggle stuff so much that he brought them to home. Their house and shed are full of them. In "If he raided our house he'd have to put himself straight under arrest. ", 'he' is not referring to Dad, but anyone who might potentially raid their house for those bewitched muggle stuff. Is my understanding correct?
– dan
55 mins ago




1




1




@dan "He" refers to Dad. If he, as a sort of Wizard Cop, raids HIS OWN house, he'd have to put HIMSELF under arrest because he keeps ilegal Muggle stuff. [Not shouting, using caps to emphasize some words]
– RubioRic
34 mins ago




@dan "He" refers to Dad. If he, as a sort of Wizard Cop, raids HIS OWN house, he'd have to put HIMSELF under arrest because he keeps ilegal Muggle stuff. [Not shouting, using caps to emphasize some words]
– RubioRic
34 mins ago












Yes. @RubioRic is right here. It is hypothetical. Imagine a Police officer who is also a criminal and has a house full of stolen items. IF he were to do his job and raid his house, he would have to arrest himself!
– Karl
17 mins ago




Yes. @RubioRic is right here. It is hypothetical. Imagine a Police officer who is also a criminal and has a house full of stolen items. IF he were to do his job and raid his house, he would have to arrest himself!
– Karl
17 mins ago












@RubioRic The line "in case they end up back in a Muggle shop or house" tells us it's illegal for a Muggle house to keep bewitching things. But I suppose their house might be ok because they are not Muggles, right?
– dan
3 mins ago




@RubioRic The line "in case they end up back in a Muggle shop or house" tells us it's illegal for a Muggle house to keep bewitching things. But I suppose their house might be ok because they are not Muggles, right?
– dan
3 mins ago

















 

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