Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

Date: 1500-1600
Origin: Probably from top + terve 'to turn upside down' (14-16 centuries)

topsy-turvy

 adjective
     
top‧sy-tur‧vy informal
in a state of complete disorder or confusion:
He left his room all topsy-turvy.
Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Advanced Learner's Dictionary.

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