diff --git a/compiler/rustc_hir_analysis/src/variance/constraints.rs b/compiler/rustc_hir_analysis/src/variance/constraints.rs
index 5e4d82b6fd5..ca650207287 100644
--- a/compiler/rustc_hir_analysis/src/variance/constraints.rs
+++ b/compiler/rustc_hir_analysis/src/variance/constraints.rs
@@ -221,8 +221,7 @@ impl<'a, 'tcx> ConstraintContext<'a, 'tcx> {
             }
 
             ty::Ref(region, ty, mutbl) => {
-                let contra = self.contravariant(variance);
-                self.add_constraints_from_region(current, region, contra);
+                self.add_constraints_from_region(current, region, variance);
                 self.add_constraints_from_mt(current, &ty::TypeAndMut { ty, mutbl }, variance);
             }
 
@@ -254,9 +253,8 @@ impl<'a, 'tcx> ConstraintContext<'a, 'tcx> {
             }
 
             ty::Dynamic(data, r, _) => {
-                // The type `Foo<T+'a>` is contravariant w/r/t `'a`:
-                let contra = self.contravariant(variance);
-                self.add_constraints_from_region(current, r, contra);
+                // The type `Foo<T + 'a>` is covariant w/r/t `'a`:
+                self.add_constraints_from_region(current, r, variance);
 
                 if let Some(poly_trait_ref) = data.principal() {
                     self.add_constraints_from_invariant_substs(
diff --git a/compiler/rustc_infer/src/infer/glb.rs b/compiler/rustc_infer/src/infer/glb.rs
index 21b68ce9989..b92b162a978 100644
--- a/compiler/rustc_infer/src/infer/glb.rs
+++ b/compiler/rustc_infer/src/infer/glb.rs
@@ -79,7 +79,8 @@ impl<'tcx> TypeRelation<'tcx> for Glb<'_, '_, 'tcx> {
         debug!("{}.regions({:?}, {:?})", self.tag(), a, b);
 
         let origin = Subtype(Box::new(self.fields.trace.clone()));
-        Ok(self.fields.infcx.inner.borrow_mut().unwrap_region_constraints().glb_regions(
+        // GLB(&'static u8, &'a u8) == &RegionLUB('static, 'a) u8 == &'static u8
+        Ok(self.fields.infcx.inner.borrow_mut().unwrap_region_constraints().lub_regions(
             self.tcx(),
             origin,
             a,
diff --git a/compiler/rustc_infer/src/infer/lub.rs b/compiler/rustc_infer/src/infer/lub.rs
index c07ac1d3ace..f6e0554fd1f 100644
--- a/compiler/rustc_infer/src/infer/lub.rs
+++ b/compiler/rustc_infer/src/infer/lub.rs
@@ -79,7 +79,8 @@ impl<'tcx> TypeRelation<'tcx> for Lub<'_, '_, 'tcx> {
         debug!("{}.regions({:?}, {:?})", self.tag(), a, b);
 
         let origin = Subtype(Box::new(self.fields.trace.clone()));
-        Ok(self.fields.infcx.inner.borrow_mut().unwrap_region_constraints().lub_regions(
+        // LUB(&'static u8, &'a u8) == &RegionGLB('static, 'a) u8 == &'a u8
+        Ok(self.fields.infcx.inner.borrow_mut().unwrap_region_constraints().glb_regions(
             self.tcx(),
             origin,
             a,
diff --git a/compiler/rustc_infer/src/infer/nll_relate/mod.rs b/compiler/rustc_infer/src/infer/nll_relate/mod.rs
index f235cb5ab45..f83219b8ee2 100644
--- a/compiler/rustc_infer/src/infer/nll_relate/mod.rs
+++ b/compiler/rustc_infer/src/infer/nll_relate/mod.rs
@@ -663,13 +663,13 @@ where
         debug!(?v_b);
 
         if self.ambient_covariance() {
-            // Covariance: a <= b. Hence, `b: a`.
-            self.push_outlives(v_b, v_a, self.ambient_variance_info);
+            // Covariant: &'a u8 <: &'b u8. Hence, `'a: 'b`.
+            self.push_outlives(v_a, v_b, self.ambient_variance_info);
         }
 
         if self.ambient_contravariance() {
-            // Contravariant: b <= a. Hence, `a: b`.
-            self.push_outlives(v_a, v_b, self.ambient_variance_info);
+            // Contravariant: &'b u8 <: &'a u8. Hence, `'b: 'a`.
+            self.push_outlives(v_b, v_a, self.ambient_variance_info);
         }
 
         Ok(a)
diff --git a/compiler/rustc_infer/src/infer/sub.rs b/compiler/rustc_infer/src/infer/sub.rs
index bd38b52ba34..51c34f0d55f 100644
--- a/compiler/rustc_infer/src/infer/sub.rs
+++ b/compiler/rustc_infer/src/infer/sub.rs
@@ -191,12 +191,13 @@ impl<'tcx> TypeRelation<'tcx> for Sub<'_, '_, 'tcx> {
         // from the "cause" field, we could perhaps give more tailored
         // error messages.
         let origin = SubregionOrigin::Subtype(Box::new(self.fields.trace.clone()));
+        // Subtype(&'a u8, &'b u8) => Outlives('a: 'b) => SubRegion('b, 'a)
         self.fields
             .infcx
             .inner
             .borrow_mut()
             .unwrap_region_constraints()
-            .make_subregion(origin, a, b);
+            .make_subregion(origin, b, a);
 
         Ok(a)
     }
diff --git a/compiler/rustc_middle/src/ty/relate.rs b/compiler/rustc_middle/src/ty/relate.rs
index 65fd8d9753d..114a91de5d3 100644
--- a/compiler/rustc_middle/src/ty/relate.rs
+++ b/compiler/rustc_middle/src/ty/relate.rs
@@ -443,12 +443,7 @@ pub fn super_relate_tys<'tcx, R: TypeRelation<'tcx>>(
             if a_repr == b_repr =>
         {
             let region_bound = relation.with_cause(Cause::ExistentialRegionBound, |relation| {
-                relation.relate_with_variance(
-                    ty::Contravariant,
-                    ty::VarianceDiagInfo::default(),
-                    a_region,
-                    b_region,
-                )
+                relation.relate(a_region, b_region)
             })?;
             Ok(tcx.mk_dynamic(relation.relate(a_obj, b_obj)?, region_bound, a_repr))
         }
@@ -487,12 +482,7 @@ pub fn super_relate_tys<'tcx, R: TypeRelation<'tcx>>(
         }
 
         (&ty::Ref(a_r, a_ty, a_mutbl), &ty::Ref(b_r, b_ty, b_mutbl)) => {
-            let r = relation.relate_with_variance(
-                ty::Contravariant,
-                ty::VarianceDiagInfo::default(),
-                a_r,
-                b_r,
-            )?;
+            let r = relation.relate(a_r, b_r)?;
             let a_mt = ty::TypeAndMut { ty: a_ty, mutbl: a_mutbl };
             let b_mt = ty::TypeAndMut { ty: b_ty, mutbl: b_mutbl };
             let mt = relate_type_and_mut(relation, a_mt, b_mt, a)?;
diff --git a/tests/ui/error-codes/E0208.rs b/tests/ui/error-codes/E0208.rs
index c67d42889d6..74c138af483 100644
--- a/tests/ui/error-codes/E0208.rs
+++ b/tests/ui/error-codes/E0208.rs
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 #![feature(rustc_attrs)]
 
 #[rustc_variance]
-struct Foo<'a, T> { //~ ERROR [-, o]
+struct Foo<'a, T> { //~ ERROR [+, o]
     t: &'a mut T,
 }
 
diff --git a/tests/ui/error-codes/E0208.stderr b/tests/ui/error-codes/E0208.stderr
index dbbb41e7950..2c7072a7e76 100644
--- a/tests/ui/error-codes/E0208.stderr
+++ b/tests/ui/error-codes/E0208.stderr
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-error: [-, o]
+error: [+, o]
   --> $DIR/E0208.rs:4:1
    |
 LL | struct Foo<'a, T> {
diff --git a/tests/ui/variance/variance-associated-types.rs b/tests/ui/variance/variance-associated-types.rs
index 1165fb53c73..ecb0821827d 100644
--- a/tests/ui/variance/variance-associated-types.rs
+++ b/tests/ui/variance/variance-associated-types.rs
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ trait Trait<'a> {
 }
 
 #[rustc_variance]
-struct Foo<'a, T : Trait<'a>> { //~ ERROR [-, +]
+struct Foo<'a, T : Trait<'a>> { //~ ERROR [+, +]
     field: (T, &'a ())
 }
 
diff --git a/tests/ui/variance/variance-associated-types.stderr b/tests/ui/variance/variance-associated-types.stderr
index 51f17c7c228..70cb246f6e9 100644
--- a/tests/ui/variance/variance-associated-types.stderr
+++ b/tests/ui/variance/variance-associated-types.stderr
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-error: [-, +]
+error: [+, +]
   --> $DIR/variance-associated-types.rs:13:1
    |
 LL | struct Foo<'a, T : Trait<'a>> {
diff --git a/tests/ui/variance/variance-regions-direct.rs b/tests/ui/variance/variance-regions-direct.rs
index 3f34e7655f3..39ea77a8aa2 100644
--- a/tests/ui/variance/variance-regions-direct.rs
+++ b/tests/ui/variance/variance-regions-direct.rs
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
 // Regions that just appear in normal spots are contravariant:
 
 #[rustc_variance]
-struct Test2<'a, 'b, 'c> { //~ ERROR [-, -, -]
+struct Test2<'a, 'b, 'c> { //~ ERROR [+, +, +]
     x: &'a isize,
     y: &'b [isize],
     c: &'c str
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ struct Test2<'a, 'b, 'c> { //~ ERROR [-, -, -]
 // Those same annotations in function arguments become covariant:
 
 #[rustc_variance]
-struct Test3<'a, 'b, 'c> { //~ ERROR [+, +, +]
+struct Test3<'a, 'b, 'c> { //~ ERROR [-, -, -]
     x: extern "Rust" fn(&'a isize),
     y: extern "Rust" fn(&'b [isize]),
     c: extern "Rust" fn(&'c str),
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ struct Test3<'a, 'b, 'c> { //~ ERROR [+, +, +]
 // Mutability induces invariance:
 
 #[rustc_variance]
-struct Test4<'a, 'b:'a> { //~ ERROR [-, o]
+struct Test4<'a, 'b:'a> { //~ ERROR [+, o]
     x: &'a mut &'b isize,
 }
 
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ struct Test4<'a, 'b:'a> { //~ ERROR [-, o]
 // contravariant context:
 
 #[rustc_variance]
-struct Test5<'a, 'b:'a> { //~ ERROR [+, o]
+struct Test5<'a, 'b:'a> { //~ ERROR [-, o]
     x: extern "Rust" fn(&'a mut &'b isize),
 }
 
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ struct Test5<'a, 'b:'a> { //~ ERROR [+, o]
 // argument list occurs in an invariant context.
 
 #[rustc_variance]
-struct Test6<'a, 'b:'a> { //~ ERROR [-, o]
+struct Test6<'a, 'b:'a> { //~ ERROR [+, o]
     x: &'a mut extern "Rust" fn(&'b isize),
 }
 
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ struct Test7<'a> { //~ ERROR [*]
 // Try enums too.
 
 #[rustc_variance]
-enum Test8<'a, 'b, 'c:'b> { //~ ERROR [+, -, o]
+enum Test8<'a, 'b, 'c:'b> { //~ ERROR [-, +, o]
     Test8A(extern "Rust" fn(&'a isize)),
     Test8B(&'b [isize]),
     Test8C(&'b mut &'c str),
diff --git a/tests/ui/variance/variance-regions-direct.stderr b/tests/ui/variance/variance-regions-direct.stderr
index eda02e9b03b..c55730296f1 100644
--- a/tests/ui/variance/variance-regions-direct.stderr
+++ b/tests/ui/variance/variance-regions-direct.stderr
@@ -1,28 +1,28 @@
-error: [-, -, -]
+error: [+, +, +]
   --> $DIR/variance-regions-direct.rs:9:1
    |
 LL | struct Test2<'a, 'b, 'c> {
    | ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
 
-error: [+, +, +]
+error: [-, -, -]
   --> $DIR/variance-regions-direct.rs:18:1
    |
 LL | struct Test3<'a, 'b, 'c> {
    | ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
 
-error: [-, o]
+error: [+, o]
   --> $DIR/variance-regions-direct.rs:27:1
    |
 LL | struct Test4<'a, 'b:'a> {
    | ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
 
-error: [+, o]
+error: [-, o]
   --> $DIR/variance-regions-direct.rs:35:1
    |
 LL | struct Test5<'a, 'b:'a> {
    | ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
 
-error: [-, o]
+error: [+, o]
   --> $DIR/variance-regions-direct.rs:45:1
    |
 LL | struct Test6<'a, 'b:'a> {
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ error: [*]
 LL | struct Test7<'a> {
    | ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
 
-error: [+, -, o]
+error: [-, +, o]
   --> $DIR/variance-regions-direct.rs:59:1
    |
 LL | enum Test8<'a, 'b, 'c:'b> {
diff --git a/tests/ui/variance/variance-regions-indirect.rs b/tests/ui/variance/variance-regions-indirect.rs
index f84f25ada14..0d00535fef1 100644
--- a/tests/ui/variance/variance-regions-indirect.rs
+++ b/tests/ui/variance/variance-regions-indirect.rs
@@ -5,14 +5,14 @@
 #![feature(rustc_attrs)]
 
 #[rustc_variance]
-enum Base<'a, 'b, 'c:'b, 'd> { //~ ERROR [+, -, o, *]
+enum Base<'a, 'b, 'c:'b, 'd> { //~ ERROR [-, +, o, *]
     Test8A(extern "Rust" fn(&'a isize)),
     Test8B(&'b [isize]),
     Test8C(&'b mut &'c str),
 }
 
 #[rustc_variance]
-struct Derived1<'w, 'x:'y, 'y, 'z> { //~ ERROR [*, o, -, +]
+struct Derived1<'w, 'x:'y, 'y, 'z> { //~ ERROR [*, o, +, -]
     f: Base<'z, 'y, 'x, 'w>
 }
 
@@ -22,12 +22,12 @@ struct Derived2<'a, 'b:'a, 'c> { //~ ERROR [o, o, *]
 }
 
 #[rustc_variance] // Combine + and o to yield o (just pay attention to 'a here)
-struct Derived3<'a:'b, 'b, 'c> { //~ ERROR [o, -, *]
+struct Derived3<'a:'b, 'b, 'c> { //~ ERROR [o, +, *]
     f: Base<'a, 'b, 'a, 'c>
 }
 
 #[rustc_variance] // Combine + and * to yield + (just pay attention to 'a here)
-struct Derived4<'a, 'b, 'c:'b> { //~ ERROR [+, -, o]
+struct Derived4<'a, 'b, 'c:'b> { //~ ERROR [-, +, o]
     f: Base<'a, 'b, 'c, 'a>
 }
 
diff --git a/tests/ui/variance/variance-regions-indirect.stderr b/tests/ui/variance/variance-regions-indirect.stderr
index fa2f4d507f3..edf2626d598 100644
--- a/tests/ui/variance/variance-regions-indirect.stderr
+++ b/tests/ui/variance/variance-regions-indirect.stderr
@@ -1,10 +1,10 @@
-error: [+, -, o, *]
+error: [-, +, o, *]
   --> $DIR/variance-regions-indirect.rs:8:1
    |
 LL | enum Base<'a, 'b, 'c:'b, 'd> {
    | ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
 
-error: [*, o, -, +]
+error: [*, o, +, -]
   --> $DIR/variance-regions-indirect.rs:15:1
    |
 LL | struct Derived1<'w, 'x:'y, 'y, 'z> {
@@ -16,13 +16,13 @@ error: [o, o, *]
 LL | struct Derived2<'a, 'b:'a, 'c> {
    | ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
 
-error: [o, -, *]
+error: [o, +, *]
   --> $DIR/variance-regions-indirect.rs:25:1
    |
 LL | struct Derived3<'a:'b, 'b, 'c> {
    | ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
 
-error: [+, -, o]
+error: [-, +, o]
   --> $DIR/variance-regions-indirect.rs:30:1
    |
 LL | struct Derived4<'a, 'b, 'c:'b> {
diff --git a/tests/ui/variance/variance-trait-object-bound.rs b/tests/ui/variance/variance-trait-object-bound.rs
index ec3c973bc76..11303c46520 100644
--- a/tests/ui/variance/variance-trait-object-bound.rs
+++ b/tests/ui/variance/variance-trait-object-bound.rs
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ use std::mem;
 trait T { fn foo(&self); }
 
 #[rustc_variance]
-struct TOption<'a> { //~ ERROR [-]
+struct TOption<'a> { //~ ERROR [+]
     v: Option<Box<dyn T + 'a>>,
 }
 
diff --git a/tests/ui/variance/variance-trait-object-bound.stderr b/tests/ui/variance/variance-trait-object-bound.stderr
index 7c46b553f43..bfcc8d4a1d1 100644
--- a/tests/ui/variance/variance-trait-object-bound.stderr
+++ b/tests/ui/variance/variance-trait-object-bound.stderr
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-error: [-]
+error: [+]
   --> $DIR/variance-trait-object-bound.rs:14:1
    |
 LL | struct TOption<'a> {
diff --git a/tests/ui/variance/variance-types.rs b/tests/ui/variance/variance-types.rs
index b9b6d9c9bb5..cfc03b75473 100644
--- a/tests/ui/variance/variance-types.rs
+++ b/tests/ui/variance/variance-types.rs
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ use std::cell::Cell;
 // not considered bivariant.
 
 #[rustc_variance]
-struct InvariantMut<'a,A:'a,B:'a> { //~ ERROR [-, o, o]
+struct InvariantMut<'a,A:'a,B:'a> { //~ ERROR [+, o, o]
     t: &'a mut (A,B)
 }
 
diff --git a/tests/ui/variance/variance-types.stderr b/tests/ui/variance/variance-types.stderr
index 9f7f1d9b0e3..0fda4b8036e 100644
--- a/tests/ui/variance/variance-types.stderr
+++ b/tests/ui/variance/variance-types.stderr
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-error: [-, o, o]
+error: [+, o, o]
   --> $DIR/variance-types.rs:10:1
    |
 LL | struct InvariantMut<'a,A:'a,B:'a> {