turn the tables
يقلب الأمور
Littéralement: to rotate the furniture used for eating
Use this when someone who was losing or disadvantaged suddenly takes control and starts winning.
En 15 secondes
- Reversing a situation to gain the advantage over someone else.
- Moving from a position of weakness to a position of power.
- A dramatic shift in who is winning or in control.
Signification
This phrase describes a situation where you reverse a position of disadvantage to gain the upper hand. It is like a sudden shift in power where the person losing starts winning.
Exemples clés
3 sur 6A sports comeback
The team was down by twenty points, but they turned the tables in the second half.
The team was down by twenty points, but they reversed the situation in the second half.
Business negotiation
She turned the tables on the investors by showing them a better offer from a rival firm.
She reversed the power dynamic with the investors by showing a better offer.
Texting about a prank
He tried to prank me, but I turned the tables and pranked him first! 😂
He tried to trick me, but I flipped it and tricked him first!
Contexte culturel
The phrase originates from 17th-century board games where 'tables' referred to the halves of the game board. It gained popularity as a metaphor for social and political reversals, reflecting the Western cultural obsession with the 'underdog' winning against the odds.
The 'On' Rule
Always remember to use 'on' if you're mentioning the person you defeated. 'I turned the tables on him' sounds natural; 'I turned him the tables' is incorrect.
Don't be Literal
If you are in a restaurant and you rotate the table to reach the salt, do NOT use this phrase. People will think there is a secret power struggle happening over the appetizers!
En 15 secondes
- Reversing a situation to gain the advantage over someone else.
- Moving from a position of weakness to a position of power.
- A dramatic shift in who is winning or in control.
What It Means
Imagine you are playing a game and losing badly. Suddenly, you make a brilliant move. Now, you are the one in control. That is what it means to turn the tables. It is a complete reversal of fortune. You go from being the underdog to being the boss. It is a very satisfying feeling.
How To Use It
You use this phrase when a power dynamic changes. You can say someone turned the tables on another person. Use it with the preposition on to show who lost their advantage. It works for sports, business, or even small arguments with friends. Just remember, it implies a big, noticeable shift. You do not use it for tiny changes.
When To Use It
Use it when a quiet coworker suddenly gets a promotion over a loud boss. Use it in a movie review when the hero finally beats the villain. It is perfect for a sports comeback story. If you were being teased and then found a clever comeback, you turned the tables. It adds a bit of drama to your storytelling. It sounds energetic and decisive.
When NOT To Use It
Do not use it for physical tables. If you are literally moving furniture, just say move the table. Also, avoid it for natural changes like the weather. It requires human interaction or competition. Do not use it if the change is gradual and boring. This phrase is for big, exciting flips in power. It is not for a 5% increase in sales.
Cultural Background
This expression comes from old board games like Backgammon. In the past, these games were called 'tables'. If you were losing, you would literally turn the board around to change your luck or position. It has been used in English since the 1600s. It suggests that luck is not just random; you can grab it and flip it. It reflects a culture that loves a good comeback story.
Common Variations
You might hear people say the tables have turned. This means the situation has already changed on its own. While turn the tables is an action you take, the tables have turned is a description of the new reality. Both are very common. You might also see turn the tide, which is similar but feels more like a natural force than a strategic move.
Notes d'usage
The phrase is highly versatile and fits into almost any register except the most formal academic writing. Ensure you identify the 'target' of the reversal using the word 'on'.
The 'On' Rule
Always remember to use 'on' if you're mentioning the person you defeated. 'I turned the tables on him' sounds natural; 'I turned him the tables' is incorrect.
Don't be Literal
If you are in a restaurant and you rotate the table to reach the salt, do NOT use this phrase. People will think there is a secret power struggle happening over the appetizers!
The Passive Version
Native speakers often say 'The tables have turned' when a situation changes naturally without one specific person doing the work. It sounds a bit more 'poetic' or 'fated'.
Exemples
6The team was down by twenty points, but they turned the tables in the second half.
The team was down by twenty points, but they reversed the situation in the second half.
Shows a shift from losing to winning in a competition.
She turned the tables on the investors by showing them a better offer from a rival firm.
She reversed the power dynamic with the investors by showing a better offer.
Used here to show a shift in leverage during a meeting.
He tried to prank me, but I turned the tables and pranked him first! 😂
He tried to trick me, but I flipped it and tricked him first!
Very common in playful, competitive social interactions.
The lawyer turned the tables on the witness with a single piece of evidence.
The lawyer reversed the situation against the witness with evidence.
Highlights a dramatic shift in a high-stakes environment.
My brother used to boss me around, but I've finally turned the tables now that I'm his manager.
My brother used to order me around, but now I have the advantage.
Reflects a long-term change in a personal relationship.
In the final scene, the hero turns the tables and traps the villain in his own cage.
In the final scene, the hero reverses the situation and traps the villain.
Describes a classic narrative trope.
Teste-toi
Choose the correct preposition to complete the phrase.
The underdog team turned the tables ___ the champions.
We always use 'on' to indicate the person or group who is now at a disadvantage.
Identify the best context for this phrase.
Which situation best fits 'turning the tables'?
This represents a reversal of the traditional power/knowledge dynamic.
🎉 Score : /2
Aides visuelles
Formality Scale of 'Turn the Tables'
Used with friends during games or jokes.
I turned the tables on his prank!
Common in news, sports, and storytelling.
The candidate turned the tables in the debate.
Used in business or legal analysis.
The plaintiff turned the tables during cross-examination.
When to Turn the Tables
Sports Comebacks
Winning after losing
Office Politics
Getting the upper hand
Arguments
Using their logic against them
Gaming
A surprise counter-attack
Questions fréquentes
10 questionsNo, it is a metaphor. It comes from old board games where 'tables' meant the game board itself.
Yes, it is perfectly fine in business contexts to describe a shift in market position or negotiations. For example, We turned the tables on our competitors.
Not exactly. While it can involve revenge, it mostly focuses on the shift in power or success, not just the emotional desire to get back at someone.
The first is an action you take (I turned the tables), while the second is a statement about the current state of affairs (The tables have turned).
It can be, but it is often used with a sense of triumph or cleverness. It is more about 'winning' than 'attacking'.
Usually, it is reserved for significant changes. If you just found a penny, you wouldn't say you turned the tables on poverty.
No, it is a standard idiom. It is understood by all age groups and used in both newspapers and casual conversation.
Using the wrong preposition. People sometimes say turn the tables against, but on is the standard choice.
Usually yes, or two groups (like companies or teams), because it describes a change in a relative power dynamic.
No, this phrase is used and understood identically in both American and British English.
Expressions liées
The shoe is on the other foot
Give someone a taste of their own medicine
Turn the tide
Get the upper hand
Beat someone at their own game
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