turn the tables
idiomatic phrase

- to change a situation so that you now have an advantage over someone who previously had an advantage over you.

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary

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WORD ORIGIN

This expression has created a lively debate in some etymology circles and online forums. One theory says that it originated during a time in ancient Rome when men collected antique tables as status symbols. As the story goes, when these men criticised their wives for buying expensive items, the women reminded their husbands of their antique table purchases and thus “turned the tables” on them. A charming story, but unlikely to be true.

A more believable explanation is that the phrase has its roots in backgammon, an ancient board game that was once called “tables” in England. Backgammon consists of two sections on a board called tables, which are sometimes reversed by turning the board around so that each player has the opportunity to play from the other side. A similar theory exists regarding chessboards, though most experts now accept the backgammon theory as the most likely.

The word “turn” turns up in other idioms and expressions. Here are a few examples:

- turn over a new leaf = to change something for the better

- turn the other cheek = to respond to insult or injury by not seeking revenge

- turn the corner = to reach and then surpass a milestone or benchmark

- turn a blind eye = to refuse to recognise or see something

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SMUGGLE OWAD into a conversation, say something like:

“We TURNED THE TABLES on our competitor by adding a 24 hour hotline that made our service the best on the market."