fight fire with fire
idiom
: to fight against an opponent by using the same methods or weapons that the opponent uses
Examples of fight fire with fire in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
But a growing number of voices want Europe to fight fire with fire.
—
The Week Us, TheWeek, 17 Feb. 2026
Matt Abdo will fight fire with fire.
—Rod Stafford Hagwood, Sun Sentinel, 22 Jan. 2026
City are clearly better equipped to fight fire with fire, but tired legs later on in games are threatening to undermine that progress.
—Thom Harris, New York Times, 12 Jan. 2026
The debate is also over style and tone as some Democrats adopt the bombastic and self-assured persona of President Trump in order to fight fire with fire.
—Colin Pascal, Baltimore Sun, 12 Jan. 2026
And in some sense, fight fire with fire at this very intense way.
—Ben Smith, semafor.com, 9 Jan. 2026
Faced with the ugliness of the world, Haram’s uncompromising response is to fight fire with fire.
—Philip Sherburne, Pitchfork, 9 Dec. 2025
So estates and rights owners are starting to fight fire with fire.
—Brian Welk, IndieWire, 17 Oct. 2025
The California governor has pledged to fight fire with fire, proposing new temporary congressional maps.
—Julia Manchester, The Hill, 21 Aug. 2025
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The Week Us, TheWeek, 17 Feb. 2026
Matt Abdo will fight fire with fire.
—Rod Stafford Hagwood, Sun Sentinel, 22 Jan. 2026
City are clearly better equipped to fight fire with fire, but tired legs later on in games are threatening to undermine that progress.
—Thom Harris, New York Times, 12 Jan. 2026
The debate is also over style and tone as some Democrats adopt the bombastic and self-assured persona of President Trump in order to fight fire with fire.
—Colin Pascal, Baltimore Sun, 12 Jan. 2026
And in some sense, fight fire with fire at this very intense way.
—Ben Smith, semafor.com, 9 Jan. 2026
Faced with the ugliness of the world, Haram’s uncompromising response is to fight fire with fire.
—Philip Sherburne, Pitchfork, 9 Dec. 2025
So estates and rights owners are starting to fight fire with fire.
—Brian Welk, IndieWire, 17 Oct. 2025
The California governor has pledged to fight fire with fire, proposing new temporary congressional maps.
—Julia Manchester, The Hill, 21 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Fight fire with fire.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fight%20fire%20with%20fire. Accessed 21 Feb. 2026.
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