turn-up for the books

turn-up for the books (plural turn-ups for the books)

1. Alternative form of turn up for the book
   • 2010, Nick Kent, Apathy for the Devil, →ISBN, page 189:

     What a turn-up for the books: the prettiest boy in the seventies pop stratosphere had prematurely gone to fat.

   • 2011, Nina Bawden, A Nice Change, →ISBN:

     What a turn-up for the books, Portia thinks, what a lark!

   • 2013, Scarlett Bailey, Just for Christmas, →ISBN, page 8:

     'Well now, that's a turn-up, Eddie Godolphin said, settling himself back into the only comfortable chair in the minuscule room. He picked up the plate of scones and stuffed one whole into his mouth. “That's a real turn-up for the books.' Or at least that was what Alex thought he said; it was hard to tell through the crumbs, cream and jam.

• turn ups for the book, turn-ups for the book