Meaning of thumb on the scale | Babel Free

Definitions

An act of bias or a tactic for cheating which creates a situation that unfairly benefits one party involved in an interaction.

idiomatic, uncountable, usually

Examples

“I'll try to give an impartial account without putting my thumb on the scale.”

“[E]ven to characterize these cases as affirmative action is misleading. What critics often present as a thumb on the scale for "less qualified" individuals may in fact reflect only necessary adjustments in the way the scale is calibrated.”

“Ron Kirk, the US trade representative, accused Beijing of putting a "giant thumb on the scale" by restricting exports of commodities including silicon, coke and zinc, to give Chinese manufacturers an unfair advantage.”

“"The data show that the television campaign ads this money buys put a thumb on the scale in criminal cases, and undermine the promise of equal justice."”

CEFR level