🇺🇸 English Expressions: Topsy-Turvy 🔄

Serge Gray

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2d (edited) • Miscellaneous Posting

“WHAT KIND OF A TOPSY-TURVY WORLD DO WE LIVE IN WHERE–

WHERE HEROES ARE CAST AS VILLAINS, BRAVE MEN AS COWARDS?”

George Costanza "The Fire " Season 5 Episode 20

Hey everyone! 👋

Today’s expression is “topsy-turvy.”

👉 It means in a state of confusion, disorder, or chaos.

When things are upside-down or all mixed up, they’re topsy-turvy.

Origin:

"Topsy-turvy" originated in the early 16th century (approx. 1520s–1530s) as a phrase likely meaning "topside-turvey" or "top-so-terve," implying the top part is turned over or upside down. It combines "top" with the obsolete Middle English term terve (to turn over or overturn), potentially derived from Old English tearflian, meaning to roll over

Examples:

• The house was topsy-turvy after the kids’ party. 🏠

• My schedule has been topsy-turvy this week. 📅

• Everything went topsy-turvy when the project got delayed. 😅

Figurative daily-life examples:

• My desk is all topsy-turvy after moving things around. 📝

• The city felt topsy-turvy during the festival — so many people everywhere! 🎉

• My plans went topsy-turvy when the flight got canceled. ✈️

Now it’s your turn! 💬

Drop your own sentence using “topsy-turvy” below 👇

WE LEARN FROM EACH OTHER! 🤝

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