Turn the tables
Meaning
To reverse a situation, especially one where someone was at a disadvantage, so that the former loser or underdog becomes the winner or takes control.
Origin
The phrase "turn the tables" has its roots deep in the competitive world of 17th and 18th-century board games, where fortunes could shift as quickly as a roll of the dice. Imagine a tense game of backgammon or chess: one player, on the brink of defeat, suddenly executes a brilliant maneuver, completely reversing their fortunes. This dramatic shift was so profound that it was as if the very game board itself had been physically spun around, placing the former loser in a position of power and leaving their opponent disoriented. From these competitive arenas, the vivid metaphor migrated into general language, perfectly encapsulating any situation where the underdog seizes control and reverses a disadvantage into victory.
Examples
- After falling behind by three goals, the team managed to turn the tables in the second half and win the game.
- She was initially dismissed as an amateur, but her groundbreaking research helped her turn the tables on her critics.