Assumedly British. I think it means someone who is clumsy and goes “tits over teacups” when they fall. Is this it’s main contextual use? Does anyone know when/where/how this originated?
And that was supposed to go in GQ. Would a kindly mod please move this thread there.
The expression is a twentieth century version of the original fourteenth century expression–
heels over head which morphed into the head over heels that most of us know the last 50 years or so.
Read Michael Quinion’s excellent version at http://www.worldwidewords.org/qa/qa-hea3.htm
Several versions now including ‘arse over tit’ and ‘arse over kettle/teapot’, all of which mean, as you say, someone who takes a tumble.
‘Head over heels’ has, perhaps, become a cliché associated with falling in love. Older people might still use it for taking a tumble.
Also, ‘going tits up’ usually has a different meaning again. For example, a business might go ‘tits up’ when it’s bankrupt.
Don’t know the origin but I think we can see it’s a phrase that becomes more graphic with the passing of time.
And ‘arse over kite’.
Might’ve been a maid tripping over the rug while carrying the tea tray into the dining room and going tits over teacups.
There is a tradition in British humour for this sort of comment. Very East End.
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