upside down
in a topsy-turvy manner
a topsy-turvy state
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
top•sy-tur•vy /ˈtɑpsiˈtɜrvi/USA pronunciation
adv.
adj.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- with the top where the bottom should be;
upside down:turned the boat topsy-turvy. - in or into a state of confusion:Things went completely topsy-turvy because the new boss didn't know the company.
adj.
- turned upside down:a topsy-turvy reflection.
- confused or disorderly:a topsy-turvy classroom.
top•sy-tur•vy
(top′sē tûr′vē),USA pronunciation adv., adj., n., pl. -vies.
adv.
adj.
n.
top ′sy-tur′vi•ly, adv.
top ′sy•tur′vi•ness, n.
adv.
- with the top where the bottom should be;
upside down. - in or into a reversed condition or order.
- in or into a state of confusion or disorder.
adj.
- turned upside down;
inverted;
reversed:a topsy-turvy reflection. - confused or disorderly:a topsy-turvy classroom.
n.
- inversion of the natural order.
- a state of confusion or disorder.
- 1520–30; perh. variant of top syd turvye topside down (with loss of d before t); turvy, variant of tervy, equivalent. to obsolete terve to turn over (cognate with Old High German zerben) + -y1
top ′sy•tur′vi•ness, n.
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