arsy-varsy
[ ahr-see-vahr-see ]
/ ˈɑr siˈvɑr si /
adjective
wrong end foremost; completely backward: an arsy-varsy way of doing things.
adverb
in a backward or thoroughly mixed-up fashion: The papers are all filed arsy-varsy.
Also
ar·sy·ver·sy
[ahr-see-vur-see] /ˈɑr siˈvɜr si/.
Origin of arsy-varsy
1530–40; probably alteration of Latin
vice versa (see
vice versa), with
arse substituted to make a facetious rhyming compound; for Latin
versa >
varsy, cf.
argal3
Words nearby arsy-varsy
arsm,
arson,
arsonist,
arsphenamine,
arsy,
arsy-varsy,
arsy-versy,
art,
art deco,
art director,
art film