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

See Examples For:

tit for tat

"It started off in a proper 'us v them', tit for tat thing between the people and the council," he said.

From BBC ● Jul. 3, 2026

He praised Powell’s avoidance of engaging in tit for tat with the president.

From Barron's ● Jun. 2, 2026

“The concern for the public and for representative democracy is that you’re going to have a lot of tit for tat moving forward,” Skelley told Salon.

From Salon ● Sep. 12, 2025

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

From Slate ● Aug. 19, 2025

“You may shoo me, and it suit you, But I feel my conscience bid Me, as tit for tat, to boot you!”

From Grimm Tales Made Gay by Albert Levering