turns the tables
Reverses the situation
To turn the tables is to reverse a situation, especially to gain advantage over someone who previously had the upper hand.
The phrase likely comes from board games where rotating the board switches positions: She turned the tables on her critics by winning the championship.
Often used with "on" to specify who loses their advantage.
- invertReverse position or order
- counterattackOffensive response to aggression
- outwitBeat through superior cunning
- shiftMovement or work period
- dominanceSuperior influence over others
challenge · flip · leverage · upper hand · maneuver · advantage · snatch victory · empowerment · feint · exploit · victory · last laugh · reversal · role reversal · overturn · power shift · confrontation · underdog
turns the tablessurrenders
Ceases resistance formally
capitulates · yields · submits · caves in · throws in the towel
turns the tablesgives up
Ceases effort or resistance
quits · rolls over · lies down · folds · crumbles
turn, turns, turned, turning, turner, turners, table, tables, tabled