To turn the tables
Example: She managed to turn the tables in the game quickly.
Definition
"To turn the tables" means to reverse a situation to gain an advantage over someone who previously had the upper hand. For example, if someone was losing in a game but then changes the outcome in their favor, they have managed to "turn the tables."
Etymology
The phrase "to turn the tables" originates from the world of board games, where physically turning the board reverses the players' positions. It dates back to the 16th century and metaphorically means to reverse a situation, especially to gain an advantage over an opponent. Did you know it literally involved flipping the playing surface to change roles?
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"To turn the tables" appears in the Vocaplus list "English - General - Idioms and Proverbs - (C2) - set 1", containing 106 commonly used expressions.
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