tit for tat

tit for tat

n.

Repayment in kind, as for an injury; retaliation.

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[Probably alteration of tip for tap.]

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tit for tat

n

an equivalent given in return or retaliation; blow for blow

[from earlier tip for tap]

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tit for tat - Probably borrowed from Dutch tip for tap, "blow for blow."

See also related terms for tap.

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

tit for tat - an equivalent given in return getting even, paying back, return - a reciprocal group action; "in return we gave them as good as we got"

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tit for tat

noun

retaliation, like for like, measure for measure, an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, blow for blow, as good as you get a dangerous game of tit for tat

adjective

retaliatory, revenge, reciprocal a round of tit-for-tat expulsions