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.”

---

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]

---

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

turn the tables

Websites like DeFlock, FlockHopper and HaveIBeenFlocked purport to turn the tables on Flock by posting camera locations and helping residents elude them.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 26, 2026

But a war for control of the Strait of Hormuz would likely turn the tables.

From Slate ● Apr. 1, 2026

“I said, ‘I’m going to turn the tables and surprise them,’” she revealed.

From MarketWatch ● Feb. 6, 2026

And in what is becoming a familiar move at PMQs, he sought to turn the tables on Sir Keir by highlighting his stint as a shadow cabinet minister under Mr Corbyn.

From BBC ● Feb. 28, 2024

What if she decided to turn the tables and show up with security officers?

From "Glitch" by Laura Martin

Related Words

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