balance the scales

1. To achieve a harmonious or satisfying equilibrium between two or more conflicting elements. Many adults today are struggling to balance the scales when it comes to their home life and the amount of time they spend working. My son is a really talented athlete, but I want to be sure we balance the scales and give him time to have unstructured fun, like any other kid. I'm not going to lie—it's hard to balance the scales between my roles as "mom" and "wife."

2. To achieve justness, fairness, or equality in some situation. The advocacy group focuses on balancing the scales in the criminal justice system to ensure that all people are treated to a fair trial and equal representation. We're hopeful that this change will, in time, balance the scales that are so often tilted in our legal system. All right, fine, you can stay out till 10:30, like your sister. There, does that balance the scales?

bud scale

The hard, protective layer surrounding the buds of some plants. Oh, that's just a bud scale—your plant is fine. A: "What are bud scales?" B: "The rhododendron has them—take a look the next time you're outside." I know it looks kind of odd, but the bud scale plays important role in protecting immature buds until they bloom.

have scales fall from (one's) eyes

To suddenly be able to see a situation clearly and accurately. I used to be so in love with Andrew, but now that we've broken up, I've had scales fall from my eyes, and I can see how oafish he truly is! Once you start working somewhere new, it doesn't take long until you have the scales fall from your eyes, and you can see all of the problems of your "perfect" new job. A: "We've tried warning him, but he won't listen to us!" B: "Well, he'll have scales fall from his eyes eventually, and then he'll see her for the liar she is."

scale (something) to (something else)

1. To ensure that the size of something complements or is proportional to the size of something else. We'll need to scale these photos to the picture frames I picked out. The architect wants to scale the extension to the rest of the house, but I'd really like for it to be quite a bit bigger than he's suggesting.

2. To adjust or design something to have a particular proportional size. Because the picture is a square, it won't scale to a standard 4x6 print unless we crop part of it out. The artist scaled the entire model city to just 1/1000ths of the real New York City, while still maintaining an astounding level of detail and accuracy.

scale back

To minimize or reduce something in size or scope. A noun or pronoun can be used between "scale" and "back." With such a dramatic decrease in funding, we're going to have to scale back on our project now.

scale down

1. To climb down something. How long do you think it will take us to scale down the mountain?

2. To reduce or decrease something in size or scope. In this usage, a noun or pronoun can be used between "scale" and "down." With this sudden decrease in funding, we will have to scale down the project to just five staff members! Can you scale this model down so that it will fit on the boardroom table?

See also: down, scale

scale off

1. To come off (of something) in flakes or small pieces. The gold paint began to scale off of the statue, revealing the cheap brass beneath. The creature's skin becomes so dry that it starts scaling off in the arid desert air.

2. To remove or cause something to come off in flakes or small pieces. In this usage, a noun or pronoun can be used between "scale" and "off." One thing I don't miss about living in Colorado is scaling ice off my windshield at 7 AM during the winter. They gave me a wire brush to scale off rust from the steel plates.

3. To base the proportions of one's drawing off of someone or something else. In this usage, a noun or pronoun can be used between "scale" and "off." I scaled my sketches off the official artwork of the character. We built a model of the proposed skyscraper, scaling it off of numerous pictures of the city.

scale up

1. To climb up something. How long do you think it will take us to scale up the mountain?

2. To increase something in size or scope. In this usage, a noun or pronoun can be used between "scale" and "up." With this sudden increase in funding, we can finally scale up our research project! Can you scale this drawing up? I'd love to have a model to present to the board.

the scales fall from somebody's eyes

To suddenly be able to see a situation clearly and accurately. I used to be so in love with Andrew, but now that we've broken up, the scales have fallen from my eyes, and I can see how selfish he truly is! Once you start working somewhere new, it doesn't take long until the scales fall from your eyes, and you can see all of the problems of your "perfect" new job.

See also: eye, fall, Scales

thumb on the scale

A method of deception or manipulation that creates an unfair advantage for the swindler. Likened to a merchant holding a thumb on the scale when weighing goods for sale, therefore increasing the apparent weight and price. You have to suspect that the casinos have their thumb on the scale when it comes to the slot machines. There's no way you're getting fair odds. These giant corporations are constantly putting their thumbs on the scale, using their vast resources to influence public policy in their favor.

tilt the scale(s)

To change the balance of a situation, such that one side or element is favored or gains advantage. The two candidates are so close in the polls that both are vying for something that will tilt the scale in their favor. The immense interconnectivity of social media has tilted the scales of power somewhat back into the hands of the ordinary population.

tip the balance

To upset the balance of a situation, such that one side or element is favored or gains advantage. The two candidates are so close in the polls that both are vying for something that will tip the balance in their favor. The immense interconnectivity of social media has tipped the balance of power somewhat back into the hands of the ordinary population.

tip the scale(s)

To upset the balance of a situation, such that one side or element is favored or gains advantage. The two candidates are so close in the polls that both are vying for something that will tip the scale in their favor. The immense interconnectivity of social media has tipped the scales of power somewhat back into the hands of the ordinary population.

tip the scales at (something)

To weigh a certain amount. That fish you caught today tipped the scales at 21 pounds! I knew I needed to lose weight once I tipped the scales at 200 pounds.

See also: Scales, tip

turn the scale(s)

To change the balance of a situation, such that one side or element is favored or gains advantage. The two candidates are so close in the polls that both are vying for something that will turn the scale in their favor. The immense interconnectivity of social media has turned the scales of power somewhat back into the hands of the ordinary population.

scale something down

to reduce the size or cost of something. The bad economy forced us to scale the project down. Liz scaled down the project.

See also: down, scale

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: Scales, tip

scale down

Reduce the size or cost of, as in The owners decided to scale down wages. This expression, along with the related scale up, which refers to an increase, alludes to scale in the sense of "a fixed standard." [Late 1800s]

See also: down, scale

tip the balance

Also, tip the scales; turn the scale. Offset the balance and thereby favor one side or precipitate an action. For example, He felt that affirmative action had tipped the balance slightly in favor of minority groups , or New high-tech weapons definitely tipped the scales in the Gulf War, or Just one more mistake will turn the scale against them. Shakespeare used turn the scale literally in Measure for Measure (4:2): "You weigh equally; a feather will turn the scale." The idioms with tip are much younger, dating from the first half of the 1900s.

the scales fall from your eyes

LITERARY

If the scales fall from your eyes, you suddenly realise the truth about something after a long period of not understanding it or of being deceived about it. It was at that point that the scales finally fell from his eyes and he realised he had made a dreadful mistake. Note: This is a reference to the Bible story of Saul, who became blind after he had a vision of God on the road to Damascus. Saul became a Christian after Ananias, a follower of Jesus, restored his sight. The Bible says: `And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized.' (Acts 9:18)

See also: eye, fall, Scales

tip the balance

tip the scales

COMMON If something tips the balance or tips the scales in a situation where two results seem equally likely, it makes one result happen or become much more likely. As the election approaches, the two main parties appear so evenly matched that just one issue could tip the balance. Years later, she still believed it had been Howe's warnings, not any love for her, that had finally tipped the scales against his leaving her for Lucy.

the scales fall from someone's eyes

someone is no longer deceived.

In the Bible, this expression described how St Paul, blinded by his vision on the road to Damascus, received his sight back at the hand of God (Acts 9:18).

See also: eye, fall, Scales

tip (or turn) the scales at

have a weight of a specified amount.

See also: Scales, tip

tip (or turn) the scales (or balance)

(of a circumstance or event) be the deciding factor; make the critical difference.

See also: Scales, tip

the ˌscales fall from somebody’s ˈeyes

(literary) somebody finally understands the truth about something: It wasn’t until much later that the scales fell from his eyes and he realized that she’d been lying to him.In the Bible, this expression describes the moment when St Paul suddenly began to believe in Jesus and was able to see again.

See also: eye, fall, Scales

tip the ˈbalance/ˈscales

(also swing the ˈbalance) be the reason that finally causes somebody to do something or something to happen in one way rather than another: They were both very good candidates for the job but she had more experience and that tipped the balance.

tip the scales at something

weigh a particular amount: He tipped the scales at just over 80 kilos.

scale back

To reduce the scope or extent of something according to a standard or by degrees; reduce something in calculated amounts: The company scaled back the scheduled pay increase. After reviewing its budget, the school scaled its sports activities back.

scale down

1. To climb down something; descend something: The climber carefully scaled down the cliff.

2. To reduce the scope or extent of something according to a standard or by degrees; reduce something in calculated amounts: The lawyer advised them to scale down their demands. We decided our travel plans were unrealistic, so we scaled them down.

See also: down, scale

scale up

1. To climb up something; ascend something: The hikers scaled up the side of the mountain.

2. To increase the scope or extent of something according to a standard or by degrees; increase something in calculated amounts: The company scaled up its operations to meet the growing demand. The city scaled its efforts up to reduce crime.

tip the scales

1. To register weight (at a certain amount).

2. To offset the balance of a situation.

See also: Scales, tip

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

tip/turn the scales, to

To change the balance slightly so as to favor one side. The idea was expressed as long ago as Aristotle’s Politics (ca. 340 b.c.), in which he wrote “The addition of the middle class turns the scale and prevents either of the extremes from being dominant” (Benjamin Jowett translation, ca. 1875). Jowett’s wording may have been influenced by William Wordsworth’s “Ode” (1815): “Thy presence turns the scale of doubtful fight, / Tremendous God of battles, Lord of Hosts!”