• n. 顛倒；亂七八糟
• adj. 顛倒的；亂七八糟的
• adv. 顛倒地；亂七八糟地
• vt. 使顛倒；使混亂

可能來自 tops,頂部，頂端，古詞 terve,翻倒，推翻。引申詞義混亂的，顛三倒四的等。

topsy-turvy (adv.)

1520s, "but prob. in popular use from an earlier period" [OED]; compare top over terve "to fall over" (mid-15c.); likely from tops, plural of top (n.1) "highest point" + obsolete terve "turn upside down, topple over," from Old English tearflian "to roll over, overturn," from Proto-Germanic *terbanan (cognates: Old High German zerben "to turn round"). Century Dictionary calls it "A word which, owing to its popular nature, its alliterative type, and to ignorance of its origin, leading to various perversions made to suggest some plausible origin, has undergone, besides the usual variations of spelling, extraordinary modifications of form." It lists 31 variations. As an adjective from 1610s.

1. Miss Ophelia was uneasy that Eva should fancy Topsy's society so much.

奧菲麗亞小姐看見伊娃這樣歡喜跟托普西在一起玩,心里有些惴惴不安.

來自辭典例句

2. Topsy had an uncommon verbal memory, and committed with a fluency that greatly encouraged her instructress.

托普西對文字的記憶力非常強, 上課時對答如流,使她的教師感到十分鼓舞.

來自辭典例句

3. Topsy would hold a perfect carnival of confusion , for some one or two hours.

托普西就會恣意胡鬧上一、二個小時.

來自辭典例句

4. He turned the little boy topsy - turning.

他把這個小男孩倒提著.

來自互聯網

5. Yes, ma'am, said Topsy, with profound attention.

是的, 夫人, 托普西全神貫注地答道.

來自互聯網