If the tables were reversed…

I heard this one on the radio last week.  In context, the speaker was clearly wanting to say “if the roles were reversed”, but instead mixed in “tables were turned” (to cause a reversal in one’s plans).  The confusion lies in the similar words reverse and turn.  Also the idioms have similar meanings, but as “my ol’ pal” points out, “tables were turned” means getting even with someone while roles were reversed has a broader connotation.