Conversations with an Artificial Intelligence - Upside Down - Improve Your British English

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Hi Britlish.
Hi Richard. How are you today?


I’m very well, thank you, Britlish.


And how can I help you today, Richard?


I put my t-shirt on back to front this morning. I thought back to front and other English expressions would be a good thing to talk about today.


I agree, Richard. If I understand it correctly, back to front means that the front of the shirt is facing the back and the back is facing the front.


That’s right, Britlish. If you wore shirts, which I know you don’t, you’d know just how uncomfortable a back to front shirt can be.


If you put a shirt on inside out, is it as uncomfortable as it is when it’s back to front, Richard?


Not really, Britlish, providing it’s not back to front, of course. If your shirt is on inside out, then people might laugh behind your back at your stupidity. That’s about as uncomfortable as things might get with an inside out shirt.


What about downside up, Richard?


No, no, Britlish. Things are upside down, never downside up for some reason. In fact, to say downside up is to get the expression back to front.


So it’s not just clothes you can get back to front, Richard?


Clearly, Britlish. You can also get expressions back to front, as a lot of students do. Sometimes it can be very funny. Yet you can’t get your clothes on upside down because they are just not made that way, except maybe for hats, scarves, and ties. Generally, though, you can only get your clothes on back to front or inside out.


Are there any other similar expressions you know of, Richard?


Let me think, Britlish. Oh, yes, there’s the wrong way round.


What does that mean, Richard?


It’s pretty much the same as back to front, Britlish.


Would front to back be back to front the wrong way round, Richard?


Yes, it would, Britlish. You’re catching on fast. There is one phrase you can’t get back to front, though, Britlish.


What’s that, Richard?


Palindromes, Britlish. Palindromes can’t be back to front.


Won’t lovers revolt now?


Sorry, Britlish? Won’t lover’s… Ah, I see, it’s a palindrome.


Yes, that’s right, Richard. Palindromes can’t be back to front or the wrong way round because they read the same backwards and forwards or forwards and backwards.


But never upside down or inside out, Britlish.


Quite!


Thank you, Britlish. See you again soon.


Yes, see you soon, Richard.

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