arsy-varsy

American  

[ahr-see-vahr-see] / ˈɑr siˈvɑr si /

Also arsyversy

adjective

1. wrong end foremost; completely backward.

   an arsy-varsy way of doing things.

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adverb

1. in a backward or thoroughly mixed-up fashion.

   The papers are all filed arsy-varsy.

Etymology

Origin of arsy-varsy

1530–40; probably alteration of Latin vice versa ( see vice versa), with arse substituted to make a facetious rhyming compound; for Latin versa > varsy, cf. argal ²