(idiomatic, British, vulgar) Tumbling upside down; head over heels; backwards.
(idiomatic, British, vulgar) Tumbling upside down; head over heels; backwards.
"arsy versy" is a strong or offensive slang term meaning tumbling upside down; head over heels; backwards. Teens often use words like this for shock value or to bond with peers, without fully appreciating who could be hurt by them. The concern is less the word itself and more whether it is aimed at a particular person or group. A short, matter-of-fact conversation about who hears these words and how they land is usually more effective than banning the word outright.
"arsy versy" is a strong or offensive slang term meaning tumbling upside down; head over heels; backwards. Teens often use words like this for shock value or to bond with peers, without fully appreciating who could be hurt by them. The concern is less the word itself and more whether it is aimed at a particular person or group. A short, matter-of-fact conversation about who hears these words and how they land is usually more effective than banning the word outright.
Slang is read by different audiences for very different reasons. The For parents view re-explains the term in plain, non-judgemental language so a caregiver can understand what their child means without needing the surrounding subculture. The For English learners view focuses on register (when it's safe to use), formal alternatives, and common mistakes — what a textbook won't teach you.
Add your own interpretation of "arsy versy".
UK and Irish slang — Cockney, Scouse, Geordie, Yorkshire, Glaswegian, Brummie, Welsh, West Country, plus Irish English. Centuries of regional dialects feeding into modern British and Irish street talk.
See all British & Irish slang slang on Slangora.
Browse all slang words starting with A.
(idiomatic, British, vulgar) Tumbling upside down; head over heels; backwards.
(UK, Irish, Commonwealth, idiomatic, vulgar) Tumbling; falling; upside-down, unstable or unbalanced.
(UK, Irish, Commonwealth, idiomatic, vulgar) Tumbling or falling; upside-down.
(slang, UK, Irish, Commonwealth, vulgar) The wrong way round; exactly opposite to that which is desirable; contrary; conceptually inverted; wrong.
"arsy versy" is highly informal and vulgar English meaning tumbling upside down; head over heels; backwards. It is mainly heard in British English (and Irish English). A more formal or neutral equivalent would be something like "tumbling upside down" expressed in standard vocabulary. A common mistake for non-native speakers is to use "arsy versy" thinking it is neutral; in fact it is rude and can offend, so avoid it in writing or in any professional setting. If you are a B2 or C1 learner, it is useful to recognise this word when you hear or read it, but think carefully about whether the situation really calls for it before using it yourself.
No comments yet — say something.
(UK, _, dialectal) Backwards; on one's arse.