PhrasesHub

Turn up for the books

    Definitions

      • unexpected or surprising outcome
        To describe a situation or event that has an unexpected or surprising outcome, often in a positive way

      • a memorable or remarkable event
        To refer to an event or situation that is particularly memorable or remarkable, often due to its unusual or unexpected nature

    Examples of Turn up for the books

    • She promised to turn up for the books at the seminar, but she never showed up.

      This idiom refers to fulfilling one's commitments or obligations. In this example, the speaker is implying that the person did not follow through with her promise to attend the seminar.

    • After making so many excuses, my friend finally turned up for the books at my birthday party.

      This idiom is used when someone finally follows through with a promise or commitment after prior instances of not fulfilling their commitments. Here, the speaker is expressing gratitude that her friend finally showed up to her birthday party, after repeatedly making excuses in the past.

    • The company was facing financial difficulties, but after a major restructuring and cost-cutting measures, they finally turned up for the books.

      This idiom is used to describe an organization or individual's financial situation. In this example, the speaker is implying that after implementing measures to cut costs, the company was able to financially stabilize itself.

    • The weather report stated that there was a chance of rain, but fortunately, it turned up for the books, and we had a beautiful day at the beach.

      This idiom is used to describe unexpected events. Here, the speaker is expressing surprise that the weather turned out better than predicted, allowing them to have a pleasant time at the beach.

    • John promised to show up for the company's monthly meeting, but he failed to turn up for the books.

      This idiom, "turn up for the books," means to fulfill one's obligations or commitments. In this example, John's failure to attend the meeting resulted in him not fulfilling his obligation, and thus not turning up for the books.

    • The team's star player promised to show up for the championship game, but he didn't turn up for the books.

      Here, "turn up for the books" means to be present or attend an event or meeting, especially in a professional or formal setting. In this example, the star player did not fulfill his obligation to attend the championship game, and thus did not turn up for the books.

    • The bank statements showed that Jane had not turned up for the books on her credit card payments.

      When used in a financial context, "turn up for the books" means to make the required payments or meet financial obligations. In this example, Jane did not fulfill her financial obligations as her credit card payments did not appear on her bank statements, indicating that she had not turned up for the books.

    • Tom promised to turn up for the books during the final exam, but he couldn't make it due to an emergency.

      In this example, "turn up for the books" means to be present and participate in an examination or test. Tom was unable to fulfill his obligation to take the final exam due to an emergency, and thus did not turn up for the books.


    Conclusion

    The idiom "turn up for the books" is used to describe a situation or event that has an unexpected or surprising outcome, often in a positive way. It can also be used to refer to an event or situation that is particularly memorable or remarkable, often due to its unusual or unexpected nature. In both cases, the phrase is used to express surprise or amazement at the turn of events.

    Origin of "Turn up for the books"

    The origin of the idiom "turn up for the books" can be traced back to the world of betting and gambling. In the context of horse racing, the "books" refer to the bookmakers who set the odds for the different horses in a race. When a horse that was not expected to win ends up winning, it is said to be a "turn up for the books" because it goes against the expectations and predictions of the bookmakers.

    Over time, the idiom has been adopted into everyday language to describe any unexpected or surprising outcome. It has also been used more broadly to refer to any memorable or remarkable event. The phrase conveys a sense of astonishment and disbelief at the unexpected turn of events, making it a colorful and expressive idiom in the English language.