Printer Friendly
Dictionary, Encyclopedia and Thesaurus - The Free Dictionary
1,799,388,868 visitors served.
forum mailing list For webmasters
?
New: Language forums
Dictionary/
thesaurus
Medical
dictionary
Legal
dictionary
Financial
dictionary
Acronyms
 
Idioms
Encyclopedia
Wikipedia
encyclopedia
?

topsy-turvy
(redirected from topsy-turviest)

   Also found in: Idioms, Wikipedia 0.02 sec.
top·sy-tur·vy  (tps-tûrv)
adv.
1. With the top downward and the bottom up; upside-down.
2. In or into a state of utter disorder or confusion: "turning our ordered life topsy-turvy" (Anne Tyler).
adj. top·sy-tur·vi·er, top·sy-tur·vi·est
1. Turned or positioned upside down; inverted.
2. Confused or disordered.
n. pl. top·sy-tur·vies
The quality or condition of being topsy-turvy.

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

topsy-turvi·ly adv.
topsy-turvi·ness n.

topsy-turvy [ˈtɒpsɪˈtɜːvɪ]
adj
1. upside down
2. in a state of confusion
adv
in a topsy-turvy manner
n
a topsy-turvy state
[probably from tops, plural of top1 + obsolete tervy to turn upside down; perhaps related to Old English tearflian to roll over]
ThesaurusLegend:  Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
Adj.1.topsy-turvytopsy-turvy - in utter disorder; "a disorderly pile of clothes"
untidy - not neat and tidy; "careless and untidy in her personal habits"; "an untidy living room"; "untidy and casual about money"
Adv.1.topsy-turvytopsy-turvy - in a disordered manner; "they were piled up higgledy-piggledy"
2.topsy-turvytopsy-turvy - in disorderly haste; "we ran head over heels toward the shelter"

topsy-turvy
Translations
topsy-turvy [ˌtɒpsɪˈtɜːvɪ]
A. ADJen desorden, revuelto
B. ADVpatas arriba, al revés
everything is topsy-turvytodo está patas arriba
topsy-turvy (inf)
adj (lit: = upside down) → umgedreht; (= in disorder)kunterbunt durcheinander pred; (fig)auf den Kopf gestellt; it’s a topsy-turvy worldes ist eine verkehrte Welt; the room was all topsy-turvyalles im Zimmer war kunterbunt durcheinander
adv to turn something topsy-turvy (lit, fig)etw auf den Kopf stellen; plansetw über den Haufen werfen
topsy-turvy [ˌtɒpsɪˈtɜːvɪ] adj & advsottosopra (inv)
topsy-turvy [ˌtɒpsɪˈtɜːvɪ] adj & advsottosopra (inv)


How to thank TFD for its existence? Tell a friend about us, add a link to this page, add the site to iGoogle, or visit webmaster's page for free fun content.
?Page tools
Printer friendly
Cite / link
Email
Feedback
Add definition
? Mentioned in
 
Dictionary/thesaurus browser? ? Full browser
 
 
Dictionary, Thesaurus, and Translations
?

Disclaimer | Privacy policy | Feedback | Copyright © 2009 Farlex, Inc.
All content on this website, including dictionary, thesaurus, literature, geography, and other reference data is for informational purposes only. This information should not be considered complete, up to date, and is not intended to be used in place of a visit, consultation, or advice of a legal, medical, or any other professional. Terms of Use.