to turn the scale in one's favor
- idiom
:
inclinar la balanza a favor de uno
- Careful preparation can turn the scale in your favor when facing tough competition.
Examples
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She managed to turn the scale in her favor during the negotiations.
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She presented new evidence to turn the scale in her favor during the legal dispute.
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The coach made a strategic substitution to turn the scale in his favor late in the game.
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How can I turn the scale in my favor?
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By presenting compelling data, he was able to turn the scale in his favor during the investor's meeting.
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Effective communication skills can help you turn the scale in your favor when negotiating a salary.
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She knew that her track record could turn the scale in her favor in the job interview.
Synonyms
20
3.9
To change a situation so you get the advantage over someone who had it before
15
4.2
Cause a big change that makes things much better
To give one side an advantage in a situation
How Favorable
Surface Forms
Morphology
turn + the + scale + in + one + favor
The phrase combines 'turn' (to change), 'scale' (here metaphorically as a balance) and 'in one's favor' (to someone's advantage), so its overall meaning can be inferred by mapping the idea of changing a balance toward someone. However, the metaphorical use of 'scale' as a balance and the specific construction may require an extra inferencing step for a B1 learner, even though many languages use a similar balancing metaphor.
Etymology
The phrase turn the scale in one's favor comes from the image of a balance scale and the action to turn it. If you turn the scale or add weight to one side so that side drops, the result changes, so the phrase now means 'to influence a situation to help you'.