stand (something) on its head

stand (something) on its head

1. To misinterpret or misrepresent something so that it is completely incorrect or the opposite of what it should be. I'm afraid we've stood the original mission statement on its head—this is the opposite of what we stand for. You just stood your previous statement on its head, and now you're contradicting yourself.2. To innovate or alter something, such as a field or activity, in an unexpected or unprecedented way. He has stood fine dining in this town on its head with three words: hot dog soup.See also: head, on, stand

stand something on its head

Fig. to stir up, baffle, or surprise a group or organization. The new owners came into the company and stood it on its head. Nothing will ever be the same. The mayor set out to stand the town on its head, but after one month, it was business as usual.See also: head, on, stand

stand (or turn) something on its head

completely reverse the principles or interpretation of an idea, argument, etc.See also: head, on, something, stand

stand/turn something on its ˈhead


1 turn something upside down
2 make people think about something in a completely different way: He stood the argument on its head, saying that the plan wouldn’t save money and would, in fact, cost more.See also: head, on, something, stand, turn