tip the scale

verb — 2 senses

tip the scale

verb
1

Idiomatic To change the fortunes, either positively or negatively.

  • The priest went on to say that God tipped the scales in favor of hope "through the resurrection of our crucified divine brother Jesus."2007, Melannie Svoboda, In Steadfast Love: Letters on the Spiritual Life, page 122:
2

Idiomatic, Used with "at" To weigh (have a certain weight).

  • was kindly called to account by the good doctor when her nine-months'-old baby tipped the scales at barely twelve pounds.1917, Mabel Thorp Boardman, Under the Red Cross flag at home and abroad, page 190:

Entry derived from the Wiktionary, under licence CC BY-SA 4.0 — list of authors.