Meaning & use
tipping the scale
Last updated
Meanings
phrasefixed phrasefigurative
Being the small thing that finally decides a result, after things were almost equal.
Grammar: Used as a continuous action; the full idiom is 'tip the balance/scales', and this -ing form often appears after 'is' or 'was'.
Patterns
- something is tipping the scale
- tip the scale in favor of someone
- tip the scale against something
That last goal was tipping the scale in their favor.
A few undecided voters are tipping the scale in this close election.
phrasefixed phrasefigurative
Making one side of a situation heavier or stronger than the other.
Grammar: Often followed by 'toward' or 'in favor of' to name the side that gains the advantage.
Patterns
- tipping the scale toward something
- tipping the scale in someone's favor
The new evidence is tipping the scale toward a guilty verdict.
Her strong interview is tipping the scale in her favor for the job.
Common combinations
- tip the scale in someone's favor
- One late donation tipped the scale in the charity's favor.
- tip the scale toward
- Public opinion is tipping the scale toward stricter rules.
- tip the scale against
- The bad weather tipped the scale against holding the match.
- just enough to tip the scale
- His apology was just enough to tip the scale.
Synonyms and how they differ
- tip the balance
- Almost the same meaning, but 'balance' is the more common partner word in British English.
- swing the vote
- Used mainly about elections and decisions by voting, not about arguments in general.
- be the deciding factor
- A plainer phrase with the same idea; it does not use the image of a scale.
Word family
Commonly confused: tipping the scale or tip the scales?
tipping the scale vs tip the scales
This is the more usual fixed form; 'tipping the scale' is the -ing version and needs a helping verb like 'is' or 'was'.
Practice
The final witness's testimony was ______ the scale in the defendant's favor.
Choose one answer.
After 'was' we need the -ing form to show an action in progress, so 'tipping' fits. 'Tip' and 'tips' cannot follow 'was' here, and 'tipped' would need 'had' before it.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “tipping the scale”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.