tip the balance

idiom

: to change a situation so that one person, group, etc., is more able or likely to succeed : to give an advantage to someone or something
Both candidates are qualified, but her experience tips the balance in her favor.

Examples of tip the balance in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
What’s at stake is not only a seat on the state Supreme Court but also an opportunity to affect directly the national political landscape that could tip the balance of power in Congress. Barnini Chakraborty, The Washington Examiner, 1 Apr. 2025 With cuts to the federal government—the country's largest employer—showing no signs of abating, and an ever-expanding list of countries and goods covered by the administration's tariffs, economists will be watching closely to see if either could tip the balance towards a recession. Ron Estes, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Mar. 2025 What could eventually tip the balance is the potential expulsion of Gazans into Egypt, which Fahmy said would constitute a threat to Egypt’s national security. Sarah El Sirgany, CNN, 3 Mar. 2025 Independents tip the balance, with 50% giving him the thumbs down and only of 43% approving of his performance during his first month back in the White House, according to the new Quinnipiac University poll. Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 19 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for tip the balance

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Tip the balance.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tip%20the%20balance. Accessed 14 Apr. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!