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.

  • Turned upside down; upset; hence, confused; disordered; chaotic.
  • Upside down; in reverse of the natural order; hence, in a state of confusion or chaos: formerly sometimes followed by down.
  • 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 or upside-down; disorderly; chaotic.
  • adverb Backwards or upside-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

[Probably from top + obsolete terve, to overturn (from Middle English terven).]

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

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", from Anglo-Saxon torfian to throw.

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Examples

  • 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

  • Set against the gorgeous backdrop of Rome, Tom Rachman’s 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

  • Set against the gorgeous backdrop of Rome, Tom Rachman’s 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 Discussion with Carole Cadwalladr 2010

  • Set against the gorgeous backdrop of Rome, Tom Rachman’s 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.

    Kartography by Kamila Shamsie: Book summary 2010

  • Set against the gorgeous backdrop of Rome, Tom Rachman’s 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.

    Atlas of Unknowns by Tania James: Book summary 2010

  • 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.

    Emmys: TVGuide.com's Picks for Lead Actress in a Drama 2011

  • He showed some mettle and remained in the game, which was a topsy-turvy affair.

    Bosh Jumper Puts Heat Over Mavericks Scott Cacciola 2011

  • Set against the gorgeous backdrop of Rome, Tom Rachman’s 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.

    The Origins of The Tourist by Olen Steinhauer 2010

  • The ticket taker stares in disbelief at the topsy-turvy fun house.

    Soul Trapper F. J. Lennon 2011

  • Set against the gorgeous backdrop of Rome, Tom Rachman’s 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.

    Cutting For Stone by Abraham Verghese: Questions 2009

Comments

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  • "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

  • I LOVE this word

    October 10, 2011