Definitions
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.
- adverb With the top downward and the bottom up; upside-down.
- adverb In or into a state of utter disorder or confusion.
- adjective Turned or positioned upside down; inverted.
- adjective Confused or disordered.
- noun The quality or condition of being topsy-turvy.
from The Century Dictionary.
- Upside down; in reverse of the natural order; hence, in a state of confusion or chaos: formerly sometimes followed by down.
- Turned upside down; upset; hence, confused; disordered; chaotic.
- noun A topsyturvy condition; great disorder; confusion; chaos.
- To turn upside down; upset.
from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.
- adverb In an inverted posture; with the top or head downward; upside down.
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- adjective
Backwards orupside-down ;disorderly ;chaotic . - adverb
Backwards orupside-down ;disorderly ;chaotically .
from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
- adverb in a disordered manner
- adjective in utter disorder
- adverb in disorderly haste
Etymologies
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License
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Examples
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The Bushmen suggest that we have turned the basic truths of living upside-down and that is why practically everything in our lives, from the global economy to our homes, schools, politics, and ecology, is in such a topsy-turvy mess.
The Bushman Way of Tracking God PhD Bradford Keeney 2010
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Set against the gorgeous backdrop of Rome, Tom Rachmans wry, vibrant debut follows the topsy-turvy private lives of the reporters, editors, and executives of an international English language newspaper as they struggle to keep itand themselvesafloat.
A Conversation with Harold Bloom author of How To Read and Why 2010
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Set against the gorgeous backdrop of Rome, Tom Rachmans wry, vibrant debut follows the topsy-turvy private lives of the reporters, editors, and executives of an international English language newspaper as they struggle to keep itand themselvesafloat.
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Set against the gorgeous backdrop of Rome, Tom Rachmans wry, vibrant debut follows the topsy-turvy private lives of the reporters, editors, and executives of an international English language newspaper as they struggle to keep itand themselvesafloat.
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Set against the gorgeous backdrop of Rome, Tom Rachmans wry, vibrant debut follows the topsy-turvy private lives of the reporters, editors, and executives of an international English language newspaper as they struggle to keep itand themselvesafloat.
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Sarah Braverman endured a topsy-turvy year, between raising her teens, writing her play and facing her ex-husband — all of which was relayed with remarkable relatability, likability and versatility by Graham.
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He showed some mettle and remained in the game, which was a topsy-turvy affair.
Bosh Jumper Puts Heat Over Mavericks Scott Cacciola 2011
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Set against the gorgeous backdrop of Rome, Tom Rachmans wry, vibrant debut follows the topsy-turvy private lives of the reporters, editors, and executives of an international English language newspaper as they struggle to keep itand themselvesafloat.
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The ticket taker stares in disbelief at the topsy-turvy fun house.
Soul Trapper F. J. Lennon 2011
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Set against the gorgeous backdrop of Rome, Tom Rachmans wry, vibrant debut follows the topsy-turvy private lives of the reporters, editors, and executives of an international English language newspaper as they struggle to keep itand themselvesafloat.
cranewang commented on the word topsy-turvy
"How is it possible after all we accomplished?" the president (LB Johnson) cried in anguish. "How could it be? Is the world topsy-turvy?"
May 11, 2008
Roelne commented on the word topsy-turvy
I LOVE this word
October 10, 2011