# What is the origin and precise meaning of phrase "falling/going tits over teacups"?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-origin-and-precise-meaning-of-phrase-falling-going-tits-over-teacups/215803>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [November 28, 2003, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-origin-and-precise-meaning-of-phrase-falling-going-tits-over-teacups/215803 "2003-11-28T23:40:37Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\
**Post date:** [November 28, 2003, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-origin-and-precise-meaning-of-phrase-falling-going-tits-over-teacups/215803/1 "2003-11-28T23:40:37Z")

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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?

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**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\
**Post date:** [November 28, 2003, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-origin-and-precise-meaning-of-phrase-falling-going-tits-over-teacups/215803/2 "2003-11-28T23:41:38Z")

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And that was supposed to go in GQ. Would a kindly mod please move this thread there.

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**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\
**Post date:** [November 29, 2003, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-origin-and-precise-meaning-of-phrase-falling-going-tits-over-teacups/215803/3 "2003-11-29T00:50:20Z")

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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](http://www.worldwidewords.org/qa/qa-hea3.htm)

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**Author:** ![London\_Calling](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@London\_Calling](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/London_Calling)\
**Post date:** [November 29, 2003, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-origin-and-precise-meaning-of-phrase-falling-going-tits-over-teacups/215803/4 "2003-11-29T01:13:56Z")

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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.

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**Author:** ![boofy\_bloke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9e8a1a/32.png) [@boofy\_bloke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boofy_bloke)\
**Post date:** [November 29, 2003, 9:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-origin-and-precise-meaning-of-phrase-falling-going-tits-over-teacups/215803/5 "2003-11-29T09:10:53Z")

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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.

[sub]Do you watch 'The Bill"?[/sub]