turn upside down
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Put in disorder, mix or mess up, as in He turned the whole house upside down looking for his checkbook. This metaphoric phrase transfers literally inverting something so that the upper part becomes the lower (or vice versa) to throwing into disorder or confusion. [First half of 1800s]
QUIZ
WILL YOU SAIL OR STUMBLE ON THESE GRAMMAR QUESTIONS?
Smoothly step over to these common grammar mistakes that trip many people up. Good luck!
Question 1 of 7
Fill in the blank: I can’t figure out _____ gave me this gift.
Words nearby turn upside down
turn turtle, turnup, turn up like a bad penny, turn up one's nose, turn up one's toes, turn upside down, turn up the heat on, turn up trumps, turnverein, turophile, turophobia
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary
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