a turn-up for the book(s)

a turn-up for the book(s)

A remarkable, unusual, and unexpected event, occurrence, or piece of news. Primarily heard in UK, Australia. Mr. Literature Snob reading a trashy romance novel? Now that's a turn-up for the books! A: "After the concert, I ran into the singer at a pub down the road from the venue. It turns out his mother went to the same school as mine!" B: "Wow, there's a turn-up for the book!"
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

a turn-up for the books

BRITISH, INFORMAL
If you say that something is a turn-up for the books, you mean that it is very surprising, and usually pleasing. Pullman's victory is not quite the turn-up for the books that it appears to be. He left an estate valued at £1,215,433 net. Really quite a turn-up for the books. Note: You can also just say that something is a turn-up. Suddenly, I found myself unable to hurt animals. This came as something of a turn-up. I had loved shooting since the age of 12. Note: The reference here is to a horse that unexpectedly wins a race. The `books' are the bookmakers' records of the bets taken on the race.
See also: book
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.

a turn-up for the book

a completely unexpected event or occurrence; a surprise.
In this expression, turn-up refers to the turning up or over of a particular card in a game, while the book in question is one kept by a bookie to record bets made on a race.
See also: book
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

a ˌturn-up for the ˈbook(s)

(British English, informal) an unusual or unexpected event: Everyone thought John would win, so when Richard won it was a real turn-up for the books.This expression comes from gambling. A turn-up was a horse, etc. that won unexpectedly, to the benefit of bookmakers, and books are the records of bets.
See also: book
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
See also:
  • a turn-up for the book
  • a turn-up for the books
  • there's one for (record) the book(s)
  • there's a turn-up for the book(s)
  • that's a turn-up for the book(s)
  • that's one for the (record) book(s)
  • one for the (record) book(s)
  • one for the book
  • beat Banaghan
  • beat Banagher