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Upside Down, Inside Out, and Backwards

There are a number of different ways to say "upside down" in German. As an adverb, you might have seen kopfüber

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Das weiß ich. Und sie hängen kopfüber, wenn sie schlafen.

I know that. And they hang upside down when they sleep.

Caption 41, Meine Freundin Conni: Conni schläft im Kindergarten

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Der arme Soldat lag kopfüber im Rinnstein, als es anfing zu regnen.

The poor soldier lay upside down in the gutter as it started to rain.

Caption 32, Märchen - Sagenhaft: Der standhafte Zinnsoldat

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The verbal idiom to know is (etwas) auf den Kopf stellen

 

Ich hab alles verändert und auf den Kopf gestellt.

I've changed everything and turned it upside down.

Caption 16, Christina Stürmer: Ein halbes Leben

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Und steh ich kopf, drehst du mich wieder um

And when I'm upside down, you turn me right side up

Caption 19, Wincent Weiss: Wer wenn nicht wir

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For the phrase "inside out," the context matters. A shirt being worn inside out by accident is verkehrt herum or auf links. But the English idiom of "turning inside out" when looking for something and thereby causing a big mess is better translated as umkrempeln.

 

Ich glaube, der würde sich in seiner eigenen Halle nicht mehr auskennen, weil die Halle ist einmal komplett umgekrempelt.

I believe, he wouldn't know his way around his own halls, because the hall has been completely turned inside out.

Captions 48-49, Rhein-Main-Ferien: Technische Sammlung Hochhut

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The word "backwards" is, however, quite simple, as rückwärts is the most common translation by far. 

 

Warum die Zeit vergeht, sich niemals rückwärts dreht.

Why time goes by, never turns backwards.

Caption 5, Es war einmal … Entdecker und Erfinder: Archimedes

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Der Athlet springt rücklings ab und dreht sich danach ebenfalls rückwärts.

The athlete jumps off backwards and afterwards likewise rotates backwards.

Caption 16, Olympische Spiele: Wasserspringen

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Further Learning
You can find more examples on Yabla German.

 

The Adjective Übel

The adjective übel in German has a number of translations, both alone and in various idiomatic contexts. First of all, it can mean "queasy," "sick to one's stomach," or "nauseated": 

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Davon wurde manchem übel.

Some people became sick to their stomachs from that.

Caption 13, Deutsche Welle - Was ist das Reinheitsgebot?

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It can also be used colloquially to express dislike of something, and means "bad," "objectionable," or "over the top."

 

Na ja, vielleicht ist es ja gar nicht so übel.

Well, maybe that isn't that bad at all.

Caption 51, Küss mich, Frosch - Für immer Frosch?

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Auch diese ganzen Witze,

Also, all of these jokes,

auch vor allem, wie die Frankfurter sie sich über Offenbach ausdenken,

above all how those from Frankfurt come up with things about Offenbach,

die sind übel, ja?

they are over the top, right?

Captions 43-44, Badesalz - Offenbach gegen Frankfurt

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You also might hear the colloquial expression jemandem etwas übel nehmen. This means "to take something the wrong way" or "to hold something against someone."

 

Deshalb nimmt es Ihnen dort auch niemand übel,

That's also why no one there will hold it against you

wenn Sie es sich mal eben in einem der kostbaren Oldtimer bequem machen.

if you just make yourself comfortable in one of the valuable vintage automobiles.

Captions 6-7, Rhein-Main Ferien - Technische Sammlung Hochhut

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Further Learning
Although übel is not necessarily an adjective we hope you will have to use, you can practice using the word in its various contexts in case a relevant situation arises. Nimm es mir nicht übel = "Don't hold it against me."  Mir ist übel = "I am feeling nauseated."