# tit for tat

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/tit-for-tat
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

Equivalent retribution; an act of returning exactly what one gets; an eye for an eye.

## Examples

- Their argument turned into a petty game of tit for tat.
- The two neighbors were locked in a cycle of tit for tat, constantly reporting each other for minor property violations.
- The diplomatic negotiations collapsed as both nations engaged in a destructive cycle of tit for tat, responding to every new sanction with an equally severe retaliatory measure.

## Origin

Tit for tat is a rhyme for hat.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.