# turn up for the book

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/turn-up-for-the-book
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

A very unexpected, usually pleasant, surprise.

## Examples

- Winning the lottery was a real turn up for the book.
- Our team was losing by ten points, so their sudden victory was a real turn up for the book.
- Given the candidate's dismal polling numbers, his landslide victory in the primary election was a genuine turn up for the book.

## Origin

Originally from the language of racecourse betting, where the turn up denoted a stroke of luck and the book referred to the bookmaker's formal record of wagers. The phrase describes an event significant enough to be entered into said record.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.