tip the balance

Idioms  

1. Also, tip the scales; turn the scale. Offset the balance and thereby favor one side or precipitate an action. For example, He felt that affirmative action had tipped the balance slightly in favor of minority groups, or New high-tech weapons definitely tipped the scales in the Gulf War, or Just one more mistake will turn the scale against them. Shakespeare used turn the scale literally in Measure for Measure (4:2): “You weigh equally; a feather will turn the scale.” The idioms with tip are much younger, dating from the first half of the 1900s.

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Example Sentences

Two state capitals helped tip the balance: Columbus, Ohio, and Lansing, Mich. Both posted net gains in domestic migrants in the last measured year after net losses the year before.

From The Wall Street Journal

The four overseas seats held by Denmark's two autonomous territories -- two for Greenland and two for the Faroe Islands -- could tip the balance if the election result is very close.

From Barron's

In those moments, would jarred garlic, a squeeze tube of paste, or even garlic powder tip the balance?

From Salon

Quantum devices, potentially working together, could tip the balance, proponents say.

From The Wall Street Journal

After so long out injured, it was only to be expected that Neymar would run into muscular problems, and he will need much more time on the field to ease his way back to a level where he can tip the balance.

From BBC