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scales

   Also found in: Dictionary/thesaurus, Medical, Financial, Acronyms, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia, Hutchinson 0.11 sec.
tip the scales at something
to weigh a particular weight. Albert tips the scales at nearly 200 pounds. The champ weighed in and tipped the scales at 180.
See also: tip

The scales fall from somebody's eyes.  (literary)
if the scales fall from someone's eyes, they are suddenly able to understand the truth When I saw his photograph in the paper, the scales fell from my eyes and I realized I'd been conned.
See tip the scales
See also: eye, fall

tip the scales 

1. to make something more or less likely to happen, or to make someone more or less likely to succeed (often + against ) Recent environmental disasters have tipped the scales against oil producers. The sudden economic growth in the area should tip the scales in favour of new investment.
2. to weigh a certain amount (usually + at ) He tips the scales at just over 250 pounds.
See also: tip

tip the scales
to cause a change, esp. in making something more likely to happen tip the balance She says the city's reputation helped tip the balance when the company was deciding whether to move the factory.
See also: tip

tip the scales at something

to be measured as being a particular weight weigh in at something He's added more muscle to his frame, and now tips the scales at 268 pounds.
See also: tip


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