tit for tat

American  

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 British  

noun

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

---

tit for tat Cultural  

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

---

tit for tat Idioms  

1. 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.

---

Etymology

Origin of tit for tat

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

Example Sentences

In this tit for tat, though, California’s threats to respond have thus far proved ineffectual.

From Slate • Aug. 19, 2025

It’s also worth noting that the other side of today’s allegations – that individual MPs were hacked too – is not uncommon in the tit for tat cyber espionage world.

From BBC • Mar. 25, 2024

It's a tit for tat, following fresh U.S. curbs on chip exports.

From Reuters • Oct. 20, 2023

The tit for tat grows more severe – and damaging – as the show progresses.

From Salon • Apr. 15, 2023

Do unto oders all around de t’ing what’s good and true, An’ oders, ’turning tit for tat, will do do same to you.

From Blown to Bits The Lonely Man of Rakata, the Malay Archipelago by Ballantyne, R. M. (Robert Michael)