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THE IDIOM COLLECTION LEARN & PRACTISE

Turn the tables

Understand the meaning. See it in context. Make it yours.

01 / UNDERSTAND

Meaning in plain English

Reverse a situation so that you gain an advantage over someone who had the advantage before.

02 / SEE IT IN CONTEXT

The expression in a sentence

  1. Our team turned the tables in the final round and won by two points.

03 / CHECK YOUR UNDERSTANDING

Quick idiom quiz

Try the question without looking back, then write a sentence of your own. You can retry as often as you like.

Can you recall the expression?

Which expression from this lesson matches this meaning?

Reverse a situation so that you gain an advantage over someone who had the advantage before.
Show the answer

Turn the tables — Reverse a situation so that you gain an advantage over someone who had the advantage before.

Try your own sentence (optional)

Make it yours

Write one sentence using “Turn the tables” about your own life.

Check your sentence

Does your sentence match this meaning?

Reverse a situation so that you gain an advantage over someone who had the advantage before.

Compare: Our team turned the tables in the final round and won by two points.

Check the spelling and how the expression fits the sentence. Your example can be different.

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GO DEEPER

More ways to understand and use it

When to use it

Use this expression about a comeback in a game, competition or disagreement. It is natural in conversation and reports of changing fortunes.

More examples in context

  • The new evidence turned the tables on the confident rival in the story.
  • After losing last week, we hope to turn the tables in the return match.

Usage note

Use “turn the tables on someone” when naming the person whose advantage is reversed. Keep “tables” plural. An ordinary change without a reversed advantage is not enough for this meaning.

A short conversation

A: Were you behind throughout the quiz?
B: Until the last round. Then we turned the tables with full marks.
A: That must have been an exciting finish.

One more practice question

Which event turns the tables in a match?

A. The leading team keeps exactly the same advantage throughout.
B. The team that was losing gains the advantage and wins.

Check your answer

B. The balance of advantage has reversed.

Related lessons

Meaning and usage checked against Cambridge Dictionary. Explanations, examples and conversation are original.

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