topsy-turvily


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top·sy-tur·vy

 (tŏp′sē-tûr′vē)
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).]
top′sy-tur′vi·ly adv.
top′sy-tur′vi·ness n.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Adv.1.topsy-turvily - in disorderly hastetopsy-turvily - in disorderly haste; "we ran head over heels toward the shelter"
head over heels, heels over head, in great confusion, topsy-turvy
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
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