turn (something) upside down
idiom
1
: to turn (something) so that the top is at the bottom and the bottom is at the top
To remove the plant, turn the pot upside down and tap gently on the bottom to loosen it.
2
informal
: to make (something) very untidy
I turned the room upside down looking for my car keys.
The house was turned upside down while the renovations were underway.
—often used figurativelyHis whole world was turned upside down when his mother died.
Examples of turn (something) upside down in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Alongside Cox, Fiona Shaw, Jodie Whittaker and Bill Nighy have also joined the film as the residents of a charming seaside town where things turn upside down one Christmas.
—
Alex Ritman, Variety, 20 Mar. 2024
In the years since the attack at the Capitol, Mr. Trump and both mainstream and fringe elements of the conservative media have pushed a steady drumbeat of those lies, an effort to turn upside down the narrative of Jan. 6 and undercut the legitimacy of the Biden administration.
—Lisa Lerer, New York Times, 13 Jan. 2024
Things with Ava turn upside down in Warrior Nun when she is mysteriously revived thanks to the help of some divine forces.
—Tamara Fuentes, Seventeen, 8 July 2020
In a split second your world gets turn upside down for no good reason.
—Brian Dakss, Jordan Freiman, CBS News, 27 Oct. 2023
After these exercises, trainers would instruct the dolphins to turn upside down and present their tail so that a blood sample could be taken.
—Carl Zimmer, Discover Magazine, 11 Nov. 2019
Coat bottom and sides with extra sugar, then turn upside down and tap out excess.
—Rita Nader Heikenfeld, The Enquirer, 10 Feb. 2023
Tammy’s appearance was a sure sign that Swanson’s life was about to turn upside down, as the couple would alternate between passionate love and fierce hatred.
—Delaney Nothaft, USA TODAY, 27 Apr. 2023
Things began to turn upside down for the Lions, beginning in the 35th minute when captain Nani was sent out following a second booking after losing possession and fouling Victor Wanyama in the recovery run to reduce Orlando to 10 players.
—Mike Gramajo, orlandosentinel.com, 15 Sep. 2021
Alex Ritman, Variety, 20 Mar. 2024
In the years since the attack at the Capitol, Mr. Trump and both mainstream and fringe elements of the conservative media have pushed a steady drumbeat of those lies, an effort to turn upside down the narrative of Jan. 6 and undercut the legitimacy of the Biden administration.
—Lisa Lerer, New York Times, 13 Jan. 2024
Things with Ava turn upside down in Warrior Nun when she is mysteriously revived thanks to the help of some divine forces.
—Tamara Fuentes, Seventeen, 8 July 2020
In a split second your world gets turn upside down for no good reason.
—Brian Dakss, Jordan Freiman, CBS News, 27 Oct. 2023
After these exercises, trainers would instruct the dolphins to turn upside down and present their tail so that a blood sample could be taken.
—Carl Zimmer, Discover Magazine, 11 Nov. 2019
Coat bottom and sides with extra sugar, then turn upside down and tap out excess.
—Rita Nader Heikenfeld, The Enquirer, 10 Feb. 2023
Tammy’s appearance was a sure sign that Swanson’s life was about to turn upside down, as the couple would alternate between passionate love and fierce hatred.
—Delaney Nothaft, USA TODAY, 27 Apr. 2023
Things began to turn upside down for the Lions, beginning in the 35th minute when captain Nani was sent out following a second booking after losing possession and fouling Victor Wanyama in the recovery run to reduce Orlando to 10 players.
—Mike Gramajo, orlandosentinel.com, 15 Sep. 2021
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'turn (something) upside down.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near turn (something) upside down
Cite this Entry
“Turn (something) upside down.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/turn%20%28something%29%20upside%20down. Accessed 24 Apr. 2024.
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