return the compliment
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Also, return the favor. Repay someone in kind, as in Her political opponent came out with a smear campaign, and she returned the compliment. Neither the compliment nor the favor in this idiom is necessarily desirable. [First half of 1700s]
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Words nearby return the compliment
return on equity, return on investment, return on net assets, return receipt, return stroke, return the compliment, return ticket, return to the fold, retuse, retweet, Retz
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary
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