turn inside-out

verb

To invert; to turn so that the outside surface is inside and the inside surface is outside.

“to turn a person's life inside-out”

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evertransackupend
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Meanings

verbturn inside-out (third-person singular simple present turns inside-out, present participle turning inside-out, simple past and past participle turned inside-out)

present singular third person turns inside-out · participle present turning inside-out · participle past turned inside-out · past turned inside-out · alternative turn inside out

  1. ergativeTo invert; to turn so that the outside surface is inside and the inside surface is outside.

    The wind was blowing so hard that my umbrella turned inside-out.

    Synonyms: evert

  2. figurativelyinformaltransitiveTo disarrange (a space) by searching through it exhaustively.

    The thieves turned the house inside-out but never found the hidden jewelry.

    Synonyms: ransack

  3. figurativelyinformalTo alter or change radically.

    to turn a person's life inside-out

    Synonyms: upend

  4. broadlytransitivehobbiesTo make (a player, especially a defender) turn the wrong way and hence get past him.

    United led after three minutes as Nani drilled home inside the near post after turning George Elokobi inside-out.

    2011 February 5, Chris Whyatt, “Wolverhampton 2 - 1 Man Utd”, in BBC

Synonyms & antonyms

verbTo invert; to turn so that the outside surface is inside and the inside surface is outside.

Similar
evert

verbTo disarrange (a space) by searching through it exhaustively.

Similar
ransack

verbTo alter or change radically.

Similar
upend

Translations

Czech obrátit naruby
  • obrátit narubyto turn so as to swap the inside and outside surface
Māori hurirua, hurikōaro
  • huriruato turn so as to swap the inside and outside surface
  • hurikōaroto turn so as to swap the inside and outside surface
Spanish dar la vuelta, evertir
  • dar la vueltato turn so as to swap the inside and outside surface
  • evertirto turn so as to swap the inside and outside surface
Swedish vända ut och in (på)
  • vända ut och in (på)to turn so as to swap the inside and outside surface
Cite this entry
APA

turn inside-out. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/turn%20inside-out

MLA

“turn inside-out.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/turn%20inside-out. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “turn inside-out,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/turn%20inside-out.

Source: turn inside-out on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.