tit for tat

noun

1. with an equivalent given in retaliation, as a blow for a blow, repartee, etc.:

   He answered their insults tit for tat.

tit for tat

noun

1. an equivalent given in return or retaliation; blow for blow

tit for tat

1. Giving back exactly what one receives: “If you hit me, I'll do the same to you; it's tit for tat.”

Word History and Origins

Origin of tit for tat¹

First recorded in 1550–60; perhaps variant of earlier tip for tap

Word History and Origins

Origin of tit for tat¹

C16: from earlier tip for tap

Idioms and Phrases

Repayment in kind, retaliation, as in If he won't help with the beach clean-up, I won't run a booth at the bake sale; that's tit for tat . This term is believed to be a corruption of tip for tap , which meant “a blow for a blow.” Its current form dates from the mid-1500s.

Example Sentences

Given the potential for a cyber tit-for-tat to escalate, Obama has even more incentive to find a diplomatic solution.

From The Daily Beast

Other feminist sites have championed objectifying men in tit-for-tat fashion as empowering women.

From The Daily Beast

This series of tit-for-tat bombings has created the most violent and volatile dynamic in Lebanon since the end of the civil war.

From The Daily Beast

But the brewing scandal is about more than political tit-for-tat.

From The Daily Beast

An argument over money provokes tit-for-tat hostage-takings between guerrilla commanders.

From The Daily Beast

It requires some study to make out who is the speaker in the tit-for-tat of the dialogue.

From Project Gutenberg

Mr. Stanges play was an amusing comedy, dealing with domestic infelicityof the tit-for-tat orderin the old style.

From Project Gutenberg

It was therefore but tit-for-tat when Minos sent Athenian tributary boys and girls to fight his bull, the bullheaded Minotaur.

From Project Gutenberg

Was she saying to herself that this was tit-for-tat; a riposte for his "Sibyl" of their talk in the morning?

From Project Gutenberg

He had declared war against Bence; henceforth, he vowed, the tit-for-tat policy should be pursued with implacable thoroughness.

From Project Gutenberg