Idiom Topics

  • The Ubiquitous Essentials

    10
    • On the other hand
    • At the end of the day
    • In the long run
    • Bear in mind
    • A piece of cake
    • Keep an eye on
    • Out of the blue
    • Rule of thumb
    • So far, so good
    • Behind the scenes

  • Everyday Casual & Workplace

    10
    • Under the weather
    • Call it a day
    • Up in the air
    • Wrap your head around
    • Break the ice
    • Get out of hand
    • Go the extra mile
    • Touch base
    • Hit the nail on the head
    • Cut corners

  • Problem Solving & Interaction

    10
    • See eye to eye
    • Read between the lines
    • Take it with a grain of salt
    • Get the hang of it
    • Give the benefit of the doubt
    • The elephant in the room
    • Hit the ground running
    • Play it by ear
    • Bite the bullet
    • Sit on the fence

  • Decisions & Perspectives

    9
    • Jump on the bandwagon
    • Cross that bridge when we come to it
    • The best of both worlds
    • A blessing in disguise
    • Once in a blue moon
    • Pull someone's leg
    • Miss the boat
    • Better late than never
    • Get your act together

  • Colorful & Traditional

    10
    • Spill the beans
    • Let the cat out of the bag
    • Bite off more than you can chew
    • Go back to the drawing board
    • Barking up the wrong tree
    • Actions speak louder than words
    • A penny for your thoughts
    • Break a leg
    • Hit the sack
    • Beat around the bush

  • Academic & Formal Discourse

    10
    • Bear fruit
    • Pave the way
    • Shed light on
    • Go hand in hand
    • Tip the scales
    • Fly in the face of
    • Bring to the table
    • Turn a blind eye
    • Draw a blank
    • State of the art

  • Emotions & Reactions

    10
    • Over the moon
    • Down in the dumps
    • On edge
    • Blow off steam
    • Keep your cool
    • Drive someone up the wall
    • On cloud nine
    • A weight off my shoulders
    • At your wits' end
    • Thrilled to bits

  • Effort, Success, & Failure

    10
    • Start from scratch
    • Pass with flying colors
    • Fall flat
    • Go down the drain
    • Keep your head above water
    • Pay off
    • Throw in the towel
    • Make headway
    • Uphill battle
    • Back to square one

  • Time, Speed, & Urgency

    10
    • Beat the clock
    • At the eleventh hour
    • Around the clock
    • In the nick of time
    • Drag your feet
    • Time flies
    • Make up for lost time
    • Call time on
    • Ahead of the curve
    • On the spur of the moment

  • Resources, Money, & Value

    10
    • Make ends meet
    • Foot the bill
    • Break the bank
    • Tighten your belt
    • Bang for your buck
    • A drop in the ocean
    • Make a killing
    • On a shoestring budget
    • Worth your weight in gold
    • Pay top dollar

Tip the scales

Learn the meaning, origin, and usage of the idiom "Tip the scales" with five example sentences across different contexts. This idiom is part of ourAcademic & Formal Discourse collection for PTE and IELTS preparation.

Academic & Formal Discourse

Tip the scales

Tip the scales
To change a situation slightly so that one person, group, or outcome gains an advantage over another; to be the deciding factor in a close contest.
History & Origin

This idiom originates from the literal use of balance scales in ancient marketplaces and legal courts, where even a tiny additional weight could alter the balance. Over time, it became a metaphor for justice, decision-making, and any situation where a minor factor determines the ultimate winner. The phrase highlights how a small influence can disrupt an otherwise perfectly equal standoff.

Examples
Workplace Email

The candidate's extensive experience with international clients will likely tip the scales in their favor during final deliberations.

Casual Conversation

I was torn between both laptops, but the free extended warranty tipped the scales for me.

Academic Writing

The arrival of fresh reinforcement troops tipped the scales of the battle, forcing the enemy into a sudden retreat.

News/Media

Late-night voting tallies in the suburban districts have tipped the scales, giving the incumbent a narrow lead.

Formal Speech

Your generous donation tonight could tip the scales for thousands of families currently living below the poverty line.

Quiz
Which of the following sentences uses the idiom correctly?

A. After a long deliberation, the jury decided to tip the scales against the innocent defendant.

B. Both phones have great screens, but the longer battery life tipped the scales and made me choose the pro model.

C. She needed to tip the scales of the heavy box onto the top shelf because it was too large for her to carry.

D. To stay healthy, you should tip the scales every morning to check if your diet plan is working properly.