subs. phr. (old).—1.  ‘A fight produced from a hasty quarrel, a casual boxing-match’ (GROSE); a shindy; a scrimmage.

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  1834.  J. WILSON, Noctes Ambrosianæ, Dec. I have seen many a TURN-UP and some pitched battles among the yokels.

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  1837.  R. H. BARHAM, The Ingoldsby Legends, ‘The Bagman’s Dog.’

            I’d describe now to you    As ‘prime a Set-to,’
And ‘regular TURN-UP,’ as ever you knew;
Not inferior in ‘bottom’ to aught you have read of
Since Cribb, years ago, half knock’d Molyneux’s head off.

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  2.  (common).—An unexpected event or result; a chance encounter, spec. a sudden piece of luck: see TURN, phrases.

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  1884.  J. BURROUGHS, Arnold on Emerson and Carlyle, in The Century Magazine, xxvii. April, 926. The type of men of which Emerson and Carlyle are the most pronounced and influential examples in our time, it must be owned, are comparatively a new TURN-UP in literature.

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  1885.  Daily Chronicle, 19 Oct. This doubtless caused the fielders to take a firm stand on the chance of a TURN-UP.

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