turn something inside out/upside down
turn (something) inside out
1. To turn the inside part or surface of something outward; to reverse something. I was in such a rush this morning that I didn't even notice that I had turned my shirt inside out before putting it on.
2. To carefully examine or search a particular place or thing, especially when creating a mess or disorder in the process. I turned the entire house inside out looking for my passport. Federal agents turned the suspect's car inside out in their search for incriminating evidence.
3. To affect or alter something completely or very dramatically. Being rejected from my top choice of university really turned my whole world inside out.
See also: inside, out, turn
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
turn someone or something inside out
to evert someone or something; to pull the inside of someone or something out to become the outside. (With people, this refers to mutilation.) I felt like the explosion was going to turn me inside out. Ken turned his pockets inside out.
See also: inside, out, turn
turn someone or something upside down
1. Lit. to invert someone or something. The wrestler turned his opponent upside down and dropped him on his head. I turned the bottle upside down, trying to get the last drop out.
2. Fig. to upset someone or something; to thoroughly confuse someone or something. The whole business turned me upside down. It'll take days to recover.
See also: down, turn, upside
turn something upside down
Fig. to throw things all about in a thorough search for someone or something. We turned this place upside down, looking for the lost ring. Please don't turn everything upside down, looking for your book.
See also: down, turn, upside
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
turn upside down
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]
See also: down, turn, upside
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
turn something inside out
1 turn the inner surface of something outwards. 2 change something utterly. 2 2002 New Republic My every preconception about Renaissance tapestry had been turned inside out.
See also: inside, out, something, turn
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
turn something ˌinside ˈout/ˌupside ˈdown
1 make a place very untidy when you are searching for something: I’ve turned this drawer inside out but I can’t find my passport. The thieves turned the office upside down but they didn’t find anything valuable.
2 cause large changes: The new manager turned the old systems inside out.
See also: down, inside, out, something, turn, upside
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
turn something upside down
tv. to search a place or thing. We turned his place upside down but never found the gun.
See also: down, something, turn, upside
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions
- a crack at (someone or something)
- a straw will show which way the wind blows
- a/the feel of (something)
- (I) wouldn't (do something) if I were you
- all right
- (you) wanna make something of it?
- all for the best
- a thing of the past
- a slew of (something)
- a bird in the hand