The phrase the tables have turned is a long standing English idiom for a complete reversal, especially when former rivals swap positions of power. Online, the fuller wording how the tables have turned became a shorthand caption and voiceover for karma clips, gaming comebacks and sports upsets. Its popularity comes from timing, viewers already anticipate a reversal from the setup, and the line provides a clean, quotable payoff that needs no extra explanation. It remains widely shared because it fits almost any unexpected turnaround.