turn it up
Preserved but no longer current.
Meaning · English
To quit, change, abscond, or abandon; "Ned has TURNED IT UP," i.e., run away; "I intend TURNING IT UP," i.e., leaving my present abode or employment, or altering my course of life.
Era: ca. 1874 (Victorian)
Where it’s used:
Origin
British & Irish English
Sources & notes
Historical definition reproduced from Hotten’s The Slang Dictionary (1874, public domain; Project Gutenberg #42108, retrieved 2026-07-31). Reflects the attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “turn it up” mean?
To quit, change, abscond, or abandon; "Ned has TURNED IT UP," i.e., run away; "I intend TURNING IT UP," i.e., leaving my present abode or employment, or altering my course of life.
Is “turn it up” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.