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Glite Dictionary
to turn the scale

to turn the scale

7.0
To give one side an advantage in a situation
  • idiom
translation icon : inclinar la balanza
  • A late goal could turn the scale in their favor and secure victory.

Examples

  • The new evidence could turn the scale in our favor.

  • Her calm explanation helped turn the scale during the difficult negotiations.

  • The new evidence might finally turn the scale for the prosecution.

  • We need to turn the scale during the negotiations.

  • A late goal could turn the scale in their favor and secure victory.

  • Her calm explanation helped turn the scale during the difficult negotiations.

  • The new evidence could turn the scale in our favor.

Synonyms

to turn the tables
vsto turn the scale
20 3.9

To change a situation so you get the advantage over someone who had it before

causes a situation to favor one side rather than the other
to turn the tide
vsto turn the scale
15 4.2

Cause a big change that makes things much better

shifts a result to favor one side without implying a large reversal
to turn the scale in one's favor
vsto turn the scale
7.9

Make a situation end the way you want

influences an outcome to make one side gain the advantage

Antonyms

to disadvantage
18 4.7

To make someone or something less able to succeed than others

to fall behind
2 3.5

To move back when others move forward

How Advantageous

to decide
417 1.1
to turn the scale
7.0
to sway
81 3.6
to skew
61 5.4

Surface Forms

turn the scale infinitive

Morphology

turn + the + scale

The sense 'to cause the situation to favor one side' is partially inferable because 'turn' signals change and 'scale' invokes balance/measurement, so combined they suggest changing the balance. However, the usage is metaphorical (not a literal turning of an instrument) and the exact idiomatic sense may require exposure; similar constructions exist cross‑linguistically (e.g. 'tilt the scales'), so it is not fully transparent.

Etymology

Turn the scale may come from a simple balance used to weigh things. If you turn the scale by moving weight, one side goes down and becomes heavier. So the phrase means 'to gain an advantage' or 'make things favor one side'.