tip the scales

present singular third person tips the scales · participle present tipping the scales · participle past tipped the scales · past tipped the scales · alternative tip the scale

1. idiomaticTo turn to one side of a balanced situation.

   "But an uprising in the central provinces would tip the scales for us!" exclaimed Conan.

   1935-1936, Robert E. Howard, The Hour of the Dragon

   1 more example

   That lends further credence to the argument that continuing to use diesel in low and limited circumstances makes sense. Unless, of course, we use so little across the country that it becomes rare and expensive. That might tip the scales against it, but I can't see that happening any time soon.

   2022 November 16, Philip Haigh, “German study puts hydrogen at the back of the queue”, in RAIL, number 970, page 51

   Synonyms: turn the scale