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 • Mar. 27, 2026

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 • Mar. 24, 2026

Only my own principles can tip the balance from one to the other.”

From Salon • Mar. 4, 2025

Mr Swinney said this would "tip the balance between whether you're going to get in your car or whether you're going to take the bus".

From BBC • Nov. 21, 2023

But they must attack right away, Ludendorff insisted, before the Americans arrived to tip the balance.

From "The War to End All Wars: World War I" by Russell Freedman