英语词汇turn the tables的起源、历史背景-英语词源词典

turn the tables. Collecting antique tables was a fad among wealthy men in ancient Rome, we’re told. When these collec- tors chided their wives about expensive purchases, the women turned them toward these antique tables and reminded their husbands of their own extravagances, “turning the tables on them.” A good story, but there is no evidence that it is true. The expression to turn the tables doesn’t date from Roman times, is only about 400 years old, and possibly derives from the game of backgammon. In backgammon, formerly called “tables” in En- gland, the board is usually divided into two “tables.” One rule of the complicated game allows a player to double the stakes in certain situations and literally turn the tables. Another possi- bility is that the phrase comes from the old custom of reversing the table or board in chess, which enabled a player at a disad- vantage to shift the disadvantage to his opponent.

词汇	turn the tables
词源	turn the tables. Collecting antique tables was a fad among wealthy men in ancient Rome, we’re told. When these collec- tors chided their wives about expensive purchases, the women turned them toward these antique tables and reminded their husbands of their own extravagances, “turning the tables on them.” A good story, but there is no evidence that it is true. The expression to turn the tables doesn’t date from Roman times, is only about 400 years old, and possibly derives from the game of backgammon. In backgammon, formerly called “tables” in En- gland, the board is usually divided into two “tables.” One rule of the complicated game allows a player to double the stakes in certain situations and literally turn the tables. Another possi- bility is that the phrase comes from the old custom of reversing the table or board in chess, which enabled a player at a disad- vantage to shift the disadvantage to his opponent.
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