turn upside down

turn (someone or something) upside down

1. Literally, to physically invert someone or something. I can't go on those roller coasters that turn you upside down—they make me so nauseous.
2. To carefully examine or search a particular place (often creating a mess in the process). Can you believe I turned the entire house upside down looking for an invitation that was on my refrigerator the whole time?
3. To affect or alter one's outlook, circumstances, or lifestyle, usually negatively. Being rejected by the university that was my top choice turned my whole world upside down. Lena was turned upside down when her mom died, and it took a long time for her to find her way again.
4. To cause or introduce significant changes to something, often as a way of attempting to improve it or change its course. This method of filing is so inefficient that I think it's time to turn the whole process upside down.
See also: down, turn, upside
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

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 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
See also:
  • turn (someone or something) upside down
  • turn a place upside down
  • turn someone upside down
  • turn something upside down
  • use (someone or something) as (something)
  • use as
  • puke (something) up
  • puke up
  • at top speed
  • (at) full throttle
References in classic literature
No sooner had Joey told us this than the poor old fellow began to turn upside down and stood on his head; but we pretended not to notice, and talked about the weather until he came to.
The Little White Bird
They bury their dead with their heads directly downward, because they hold an opinion, that in eleven thousand moons they are all to rise again; in which period the earth (which they conceive to be flat) will turn upside down, and by this means they shall, at their resurrection, be found ready standing on their feet.
Gullivers Travels
Accra will turn upside down! No, all of Ghana will turn upside down!
MENSAH: WE'RE GHANA PARTY IF WE BEAT YOU
In 1996, the world did not turn upside down yet again.
Conservatives still rule the roost
An eyewitness said he saw the aircraft shudder, twist round and turn upside down before plunging into the rockface.
Admiral dies in jet horror
in New York City won hers for discovering that oxygen-starved sea stars turn upside down to breathe.
Budding scientists earn top scholarships
This is the moment when the RAC Rally hopes of British champion Gwyndaf Evans turn upside down (left).
RALLY OOPS!
The biologist found that sea stars turn upside down to soak up oxygen from the air when they can't get enough from the water.
Young scientists reap talent search awards