1
general::
1. Increase the volume, speed, intensity, or flow of, as in Turn up the air conditioning; it's too hot in here. [Late 1800s] 2. Find or be found, as in She turned up the missing papers, or Your coat turned up in the closet. 3. Appear, arrive, as in His name turns up in the newspaper now and then, or Some old friends turned up unexpectedly. [c. 1700] This usage gave rise to turn up like a bad penny, meaning that something unwanted constantly reappears, as in Ken turns up like a bad penny whenever there's free liquor. Bad here alludes to a counterfeit coin. 4. Fold or be capable of being folded, as in I'll just turn up the hem, or He preferred cuffs that turn up. [c. 1600] 5. Happen unexpectedly, as in Something turned up so I couldn't go to the play. Also see the following idioms beginning with TURN UP.
American Heritage Idioms
2
general::
Phrase(s): turn up (somewhere)
Fig. [for someone or something] to appear in a place. • Her name is always turning up in the gossip columns. • He turned up an hour late., Phrase(s): turn someone or something up
1. Lit. to increase the volume of a device emitting the sound of someone or something. • I can’t hear the lecturer. Turn her up. • Turn up the radio, please. 2. Fig. to discover or locate someone or something. • See if you can turn up any evidence for his presence on the night of January 16. • Have you been able to turn up a date for Friday night?, Phrase(s): turn up
1. [for part of something] to point upward. • The ends of the elf ’s funny little shoes turned up. 2. Fig. to happen. • Something always turns up to prevent their meeting. • I am sorry I was late. Something turned up at the last minute. 3. Fig. to appear; to arrive and attend. • We’ll send out invitations and see who turns up. • Guess who turned up at my door last night?, Phrase(s): turn something up
1. to bend or fold something up. (See also turn up.) • Please turn your cuffs up. They are getting muddy. • He turned up his coat collar to keep the rain off his neck. 2. to turn playing cards face up. • Please turn all the cards up. • Sally turned up the cards one at a time.
McGrawhill's American Idioms And Phrasal Verbs