turn the tables

Cultural  

1. To reverse a situation and gain the upper hand: “After trailing the entire first quarter, the team rallied and finally turned the tables.”

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turn the tables Idioms  

1. Reverse a situation and gain the upper hand, as in Steffi won their previous three matches but today Mary turned the tables and prevailed. This expression alludes to the former practice of reversing the table or board in games such as chess, thereby switching the opponents' positions. [c. 1600]

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Example Sentences

The Cleveland Cavaliers, who fell 140-138 to Miami in an overtime heartbreaker on Monday, rallied to turn the tables with a 130-116 triumph over the Heat.

From Barron's

The warning to Republicans in Tuesday’s election results is that Democrats are turning the tables on affordability, especially when they steer clear of leftist cultural snares.

From The Wall Street Journal

"We can turn the tables every time, and we can return every land desecrated by these traitors to the nation's fold," he said.

From BBC

Chasing 233, the Proteas were on the ropes at 78-5, but their tail refused to throw in the towel, showing the same grit that saw them turn the tables on India in their previous outing.

From Barron's

Less smug but still rather inscrutable, he sips on tea and evades answering Arisu’s question directly, instead turning the tables.

From Salon

Related Words

• alter
• annul
• dismantle
• invalidate
• lift
• modify
• nullify
• overrule
• overturn
• quash
• repeal
• rescind
• revoke
• set aside
• undo