tit for tat

noun phrase

ˌtit-fər-ˈtat 

: an equivalent given in return (as for an injury) : retaliation in kind

tit-for-tat adjective

Examples of tit for tat in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The scoring was tit for tat to the end, with winger Stravino Jacobs and captain Marcell Coetzee dotting down for the Bulls, and Carter and Wallace Sititi replying for New Zealand's second straight 50-pointer. — ABC News, 15 Aug. 2026

In some tit for tat, SpaceX is subtly nudging the Federal Communications Commission to penalize rival satellite internet provider Eutelsat OneWeb after the EU adopted rules to preserve satellite spectrum for European companies. — Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 29 July 2026

The displacement of so many Jews from their ancient home becomes a kind of tit for tat—a balancing act of victimhood against the hundreds of thousands of Palestinian refugees who fled or were expelled during Israel’s war of independence. — Adam Louis-Klein, The Atlantic, 18 June 2026

Reciprocity within capitalism and white supremacy is tit for tat. — Lorinda Toledo, Los Angeles Times, 15 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

alteration of earlier tip for tap, from tip (blow) + for + tap

First Known Use

1546, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for tit for tat

• acrobat
• autocrat
• automat
• bundesrat
• bureaucrat
• butterfat
• caveat
• chemostat
• copycat
• cryostat
• democrat
• diplomat