turn topsy-turvy
1turn topsy-turvy — turn (something) topsy turvy to completely change something, or to completely change. The steel industry is about to be turned topsy turvy by a technological revolution. My life has turned topsy turvy …
2turn topsy-turvy — Upset, disorder, confuse …
3Topsy-turvy — Top sy tur vy, adv. [Earlier topside turvey, topsy tervy; probably for top so turvy; that is, the top as turvy, as it were turvy; where turvy probably means, overturned, fr. {AS}. torfian to throw.] In an inverted posture; with the top or head… …
4turn something topsy-turvy — turn (something) topsy turvy to completely change something, or to completely change. The steel industry is about to be turned topsy turvy by a technological revolution. My life has turned topsy turvy …
5topsy-turvy — topsy turvily, adv. topsyturviness, n. /top see terr vee/, adv., adj., n., pl. topsy turvies. adv. 1. with the top where the bottom should be; upside down. 2. in or into a reversed condition or order. 3. in or into a state of confusion or… …
6topsy-turvy — 1520s, but prob. in popular use from an earlier period [OED], likely from tops, plural of TOP (Cf. top) (n.1) highest point + obsolete terve turn upside down, topple over, from O.E. tearflian to roll over, overturn, from P.Gmc. *terbanan (Cf. O.H …
7topsy-turvy — adv. to turn smt. topsy turvy * * * [ˌtɒpsɪ tɜːvɪ] to turn smt. topsy turvy …
8topsy-turvy — I. adverb Etymology: probably ultimately from tops (plural of 1top) + obsolete English terve to turn upside down Date: 1528 1. in utter confusion or disorder 2. with the top or head downward ; upside down II. adjective …
9topsy-turvy — top|sy tur|vy [ˌtɔpsi ˈtə:vi US ˌta:psi ˈtə:rvi] adj informal [Date: 1500 1600; Origin: Probably from top + terve to turn upside down (14 16 centuries)] in a state of complete disorder or confusion ▪ He left his room all topsy turvy …
10topsy-turvy — top•sy tur•vy [[t]ˈtɒp siˈtɜr vi[/t]] adv. adj. n. pl. vies 1) with the top where the bottom should be; upside down 2) in or into a state of confusion or disorder 3) turned upside down; inverted; reversed 4) confused or disorderly 5) inversion of …
