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Synonyms

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

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

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

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.

From Barron's • Oct. 13, 2025

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

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.