tip the balance

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.

Example Sentences

Having more districts across the US that favour a political party could tip the balance of power in the US House of Representatives - and both Republicans and Democrats now want to win that advantage for themselves.

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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.

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

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We now know those principles will tip the balance of the Washington Post’s opinion pages towards the personal views of a man who is very rich and very afraid of upsetting a volatile and vindictive president.

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The leaked Watermelon intelligence from within the military is helping to tip the balance.

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