tip the scales

phrase

1

: to register weight

tips the scales at 285 pounds

2

: to shift the balance of power or influence

… tipped the scales in favor of a declaration of war …

—S. F. Bemis

Examples of tip the scales in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Hagee also said a single THC vape cartridge or a small tin of gummies can often tip the scales into felony territory in Texas, even if the same product was legal where it was purchased. — Tiffani Jackson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 July 2026

Only in dense urban areas would that likely be enough to tip the scales. — Rogé Karma, The Atlantic, 17 July 2026

But these distressed firm are also much smaller operations, where a shift in consumer spending could tip the scales in the wrong direction. — Vicki M. Young, Footwear News, 14 July 2026

The hard-top version tips the scales at just 2,789 pounds, giving it the best power-to-weight ratio in the series. — Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 10 July 2026

Rhymes for tip the scales

• ails
• ales
• bailes
• bails
• bales
• dales
• dalles
• fails
• gales
• hails
• hales
• jails