tip\ the\ scales

tip\ the\ scales
v. phr. informal
1. To weigh.

Martin tips the scales at 180 pounds.

2. or tip the balance
To have important or decisive influence; make a decision go for or against you; decide.

John's vote tipped the scales in our favor, and we won the election.

Compare: turn the tide

Словарь американских идиом. — СПб., Изд-во "Лань". . 1997.

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Look at other dictionaries:

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  • tip the scales at 12 stone — tip the scales at 12 stone/200 pounds etc/informal phrase to weigh a particular amount The defending champion tips the scales at 18 stone 6. Thesaurus: weight and describing weighthyponym general words for heavy thingssynonym …   Useful english dictionary

  • tip the scales at 200 pounds — tip the scales at 12 stone/200 pounds etc/informal phrase to weigh a particular amount The defending champion tips the scales at 18 stone 6. Thesaurus: weight and describing weighthyponym general words for heavy thingssynonym …   Useful english dictionary

  • tip the scales at something — tip the scales at (something) to be measured as being a particular weight. He s added more muscle to his frame, and now tips the scales at 268 pounds …   New idioms dictionary

  • tip the scales at something — tip the scales at sth idiom to weigh a particular amount • He tipped the scales at just over 80 kilos. Main entry: ↑tipidiom …   Useful english dictionary

  • tip the scales — ► tip (or turn) the scales (or balance) be the deciding factor; make the critical difference. Main Entry: ↑scale …   English terms dictionary

  • tip the scales — {v. phr.}, {informal} 1. To weigh. * /Martin tips the scales at 180 pounds./ 2. or[tip the balance] To have important or decisive influence; make a decision go for or against you; decide. * /John s vote tipped the scales in our favor, and we won… …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • tip the scales — {v. phr.}, {informal} 1. To weigh. * /Martin tips the scales at 180 pounds./ 2. or[tip the balance] To have important or decisive influence; make a decision go for or against you; decide. * /John s vote tipped the scales in our favor, and we won… …   Dictionary of American idioms

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