tɜːrn ðə ˈteɪblz
General
informal
beginner
- Literally:
- Rotating a table to change positions
What does "turn the tables" mean?
- To reverse a situation to gain advantage
- To change from weaker to stronger position
Examples
- The team turned the tables in the second half.
- She turned the tables on her critics.
- They managed to turn the tables on the larger company.
Origin
From board games where turning the table reversed players' positions. Also from turning tables on competitors.
How to use it
Implies dramatic reversal of fortunes. Common in sports and competition.
Similar expressions
reverse the situation
gain the upper hand
flip the script
Opposites
maintain disadvantage
stay behind
remain dominated
Related idioms
- actions speak louder than words
What people do is more important than what they say
- better safe than sorry
It's better to be careful and prevent problems than to take risks
- so far so good
Things have gone well up to now
- easier said than done
Something is more difficult to do than to talk about
- make a long story short
To summarize or get to the point
- to make matters worse
In addition to existing problems
Use it in a practice answer
Try "turn the tables" in a CELPIP-style Speaking or Writing task. The AI feedback tells you whether your word choice worked.