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- It may be an adaptation of the medieval verb ‘tirve’, meaning ‘to turn or to topple over’. It has also been suggested that ‘turvy’ is an allusion to ‘turf’ and that ‘topsy-turvy’ means ‘with one’s head on the turf’. That’s possible, but none of the early citations of the phrase make any such allusion.
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‘Topsy’ is clearly an allusion to ‘top’. ‘Turvy’ isn’t so easy to interpret. The numerous variant spellings in early citations, which include tervy, tirvy, turvy, turvie etc., don’t offer much in the way of a clue as to the meaning of the word.
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Is 'turvy' an allusion to 'tirve' or 'topsy-turvy?
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What is topsy-turvy?
The meaning of TOPSY-TURVY is in utter confusion or disorder. How to use topsy-turvy in a sentence.
Find the answers with Practical English Usage online, your indispensable guide to problems in English. Definition of topsy-turvy adjective in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.
(in a state of being) confused, not well organized, or giving importance to unexpected things: The governor's topsy-turvy priorities mean that spending on education remains low. Synonyms. chaotic. confused. disorderly. higgledy-piggledy informal. SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases. Confusion, confusing and feeling confused. addled.
May 9, 2024 · Century Dictionary calls topsy-turvy "A word which, owing to its popular nature, its alliterative type, and to ignorance of its origin, leading to various perversions made to suggest some plausible origin, has undergone, besides the usual variations of spelling, extraordinary modifications of form." It lists and dates 31 variations.
Jun 2, 2024 · topsy - turvy ( countable and uncountable, plural topsy-turvies) ( countable) An act of turning something backwards or upside down, or the situation that something is in after this has happened . ( countable, figurative) A situation where the natural order of things has been upset .
(in a state of being) confused, not well organized, or giving importance to unexpected things: The government's topsy-turvy priorities mean that spending on education remains low. Synonyms. chaotic. confused. disorderly. higgledy-piggledy informal. SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases. Confusion, confusing and feeling confused. addled.
