return the favor
idiom
: to do something the same or similar in return for something done
He treats them well, and they return the favor.
Examples of return the favor in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The plan in Texas has ignited a nasty and partisan tug-of-war with Democratic governors in Illinois, New York and California pledging to return the favor and redraw their congressional maps to add more Democratic districts.
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Rebecca Morin, USA Today, 5 Aug. 2025
Hank agrees for the sake of Kahn’s family’s reputation, and Kahn promises to return the favor when Hank gets divorced.
—Genevieve Koski, Vulture, 5 Aug. 2025
For instance, the insects that feast on juneberry flowers return the favor by carrying pollen to other blossoms.
—The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 27 June 2025
But, either way, Corman would eventually return the favor by producing this Syfy monster mash-up featuring a patently CGI shark–octopus hybrid.
—Chris Nashawaty, EW.com, 20 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for return the favor
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Rebecca Morin, USA Today, 5 Aug. 2025
Hank agrees for the sake of Kahn’s family’s reputation, and Kahn promises to return the favor when Hank gets divorced.
—Genevieve Koski, Vulture, 5 Aug. 2025
For instance, the insects that feast on juneberry flowers return the favor by carrying pollen to other blossoms.
—The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 27 June 2025
But, either way, Corman would eventually return the favor by producing this Syfy monster mash-up featuring a patently CGI shark–octopus hybrid.
—Chris Nashawaty, EW.com, 20 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for return the favor
Cite this Entry
“Return the favor.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/return%20the%20favor. Accessed 19 Aug. 2025.
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