Meaning
- change your position with respect to someone else.
- turning an unfavorable circumstance into one of favor.
- to make one's plan turn back on them.
- causing one's plans to be reversed.
Examples in Sentences
- After flying back to town, I went to Jenna's place uninformed to surprise her & to my amaze she had already planned a party to welcome me. I should have known she is smart enough to turn the tables.
- The businessman who was on the verge of bankruptcy turned the tables when he won a million dollars in a casino with a few thousand he had.
- The activist held a seminar for people to turn the tables on government employees who ask for bribery.
- Aria, who had been accused of infringement by her competitor, turned the tables on him by presenting proof of her innocence at the last moment.
- It is easy to turn the tables on your rival. You just have to act witty and know their weaknesses.
Origin
Until the medieval 18th century, tables were usually used for the board game backgammon. This phrase was earlier used during the mid-17th century, making it significant that it originates from the practise of turning the board so that a player would play at the position that was previously that of their competitor.
