A** over teakettke

[EngTeach]

My mom (63) says the expression "a** over tea kettle", meaning to trip over something an fall. When we were kids she'd yell that we wouldn't be happy until she went "A** over tea kettle" when we left our toys, shoes, etc., on the floor. It's become a family term now, and I have never heard anyone say it, until Dr. Phil used it on his show. Has anyone else ever heard it/or know its origins? We joke that we will put on her grave "Here lies Karen: she went a** over tea kettle". :) Thanks

[Quizmonster]

I've certainly heard the expression before. The earliest recorded use of the 'tea-kettle' version is in Thomas Pynchon's 1963 novel V. I suspect that particular American slang version was just an onomatopoeic elaboration of the British English 'a... over tip' or - later - 'tit'. They all mean the same as 'head over heels'...ie the wrong way up.

[EngTeach]

Thanks Quizmaster!!!

[EngTeach]

Oops! I meant "Thanks Quizmonster"!!

[heathfield]

I've heard it more commonly as '...over elbow'. Just a variation on the theme being upside-down through tripping or falling

[luvbug69]

I think perhaps it was a more polite way of saying "arse over tit"