turn the tables

1. To reverse a situation and gain the upper hand: “After trailing the entire first quarter, the team rallied and finally turned the tables.”

Idioms and Phrases

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

"We can turn the tables every time, and we can return every land desecrated by these traitors to the nation's fold," he said.

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Chasing 233, the Proteas were on the ropes at 78-5, but their tail refused to throw in the towel, showing the same grit that saw them turn the tables on India in their previous outing.

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Less smug but still rather inscrutable, he sips on tea and evades answering Arisu’s question directly, instead turning the tables.

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“Why would you eat me out in broad daylight?” she spits at Isaac shortly after he turns the tables on their weekend.

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But Sinner survived and turned the tables on Shelton in the very next game.

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Related Words

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