returns to scale
a function describing how returns scale when production increases in the long run
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“The factory sees better returns to scale as it grows.”
“When the company doubled its equipment, it achieved higher returns to scale by reducing the cost per unit.”
“Economists analyze whether a firm experiences increasing or decreasing returns to scale by observing how output changes relative to the proportional expansion of all inputs.”
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diminishing returns
A condition in which additional inputs into an organization, project or process produce progressively fewer or lower-quality additional outputs, and may, in extreme cases, cause the total quantity or quality of outputs to decrease.
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many happy returns
A greeting, usually for birthdays, in reference to the passing year; Happy birthday!
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off the scale
Far in excess of what is normal or measurable.
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return the favor
To do something for someone similar to what they did for you.
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return to form
A return to a former state of success or brilliance.
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return to one's muttons
To get back to the business at hand.
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thumb on the scale
An act of bias or a tactic for cheating which creates a situation that unfairly benefits one party involved in an interaction.
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tip the scale
To change the fortunes, either positively or negatively.
Last updated August 10, 2026