tit for tat
noun
with an equivalent given in retaliation, as a blow for a blow, repartee, etc.: He answered their insults tit for tat.
Origin of tit for tat
First recorded in 1550–60; perhaps variant of earlier
tip for tap
Words nearby tit for tat
tissue typing,
tissue-specific antigen,
tiswin,
tisza,
tit,
tit for tat,
tit-tat-toe,
tit.,
titan,
titanate,
titanesque
Example sentences from the Web for tit for tat
British Dictionary definitions for tit for tat
tit for tat
noun
an equivalent given in return or retaliation; blow for blow
Word Origin for tit for tat
C16: from earlier
tip for tap
Cultural definitions for tit for tat
tit for tat
Giving back exactly what one receives: “If you hit me, I'll do the same to you; it's tit for tat.”
Idioms and Phrases with tit for tat
tit for tat
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.