From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishtip/swing the balancetip/swing the balanceEFFECT/INFLUENCEto influence the result of an event The dignity and courage shown by the president may tip the balance in his party’s favour. → balance
Examples from the Corpus
tip/swing the balance• The thought or feeling tipped the balance, made the difference.• Chernobyl had further tipped the balance.• Perhaps remorse at having joined it had tipped the balance of Fred's mind.• Your letter of recommendation swung the balance in his favor.• The nature of his choice or the terms in which it is expressed may then tip the balance.• Vigorous efforts were made to tip the balance more in favour of those with greater needs.• Teachers may try to tip the balance about this Englishness.• What tipped the balance against that was my continuing dreadful performance in the classroom.• His influence on deputies is significant, but it will be Mr Yeltsin's performance that will swing the balance. 