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
Daniels and Bean provided mentorship last season, so he’s tried to return the favor and do the same with freshman quarterback Isaiah Marshall.
—
Shreyas Laddha, Kansas City Star, 27 Mar. 2024
Bobin, who was first introduced to Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson books years ago by his kids, got to return the favor by bringing them to set for the big game.
—Christian Holub, EW.com, 15 Dec. 2023
On Saturday her teammates were thrilled return the favor.
—Thuc Nhi Nguyen, Los Angeles Times, 24 Mar. 2024
When that man — who became a close family friend — was diagnosed with a different type of leukemia years later, Costello stepped up to return the favor.
—Wendy Grossman Kantor, Peoplemag, 20 Nov. 2023
The trees provide nectar and shelter for native ants, and to return the favor, these ants protect them from animals looking to take a bite to eat; whenever herbivores try to eat from the tree, the ants start biting and emitting formic acid to stave them off.
—Jack Knudson, Discover Magazine, 25 Jan. 2024
Though Taylor Swift has attended at least five Kansas City Chiefs games in a row, Travis Kelce reportedly won’t be able to return the favor at the Golden Globes—even though he’s also scheduled to be in Los Angeles.
—Emily Tannenbaum, Glamour, 4 Jan. 2024
Negative indebtedness is the feeling of obligation to return the favor, to pay a debt.
—Samantha Laine Perfas, The Christian Science Monitor, 21 Nov. 2023
Alabama officials opted to return the favor when Texas relegated the full Crimson Tide seating allotment upstairs in Austin.
—Michael Casagrande | McAsagrande@al.com, al, 7 Sep. 2023
Shreyas Laddha, Kansas City Star, 27 Mar. 2024
Bobin, who was first introduced to Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson books years ago by his kids, got to return the favor by bringing them to set for the big game.
—Christian Holub, EW.com, 15 Dec. 2023
On Saturday her teammates were thrilled return the favor.
—Thuc Nhi Nguyen, Los Angeles Times, 24 Mar. 2024
When that man — who became a close family friend — was diagnosed with a different type of leukemia years later, Costello stepped up to return the favor.
—Wendy Grossman Kantor, Peoplemag, 20 Nov. 2023
The trees provide nectar and shelter for native ants, and to return the favor, these ants protect them from animals looking to take a bite to eat; whenever herbivores try to eat from the tree, the ants start biting and emitting formic acid to stave them off.
—Jack Knudson, Discover Magazine, 25 Jan. 2024
Though Taylor Swift has attended at least five Kansas City Chiefs games in a row, Travis Kelce reportedly won’t be able to return the favor at the Golden Globes—even though he’s also scheduled to be in Los Angeles.
—Emily Tannenbaum, Glamour, 4 Jan. 2024
Negative indebtedness is the feeling of obligation to return the favor, to pay a debt.
—Samantha Laine Perfas, The Christian Science Monitor, 21 Nov. 2023
Alabama officials opted to return the favor when Texas relegated the full Crimson Tide seating allotment upstairs in Austin.
—Michael Casagrande | McAsagrande@al.com, al, 7 Sep. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'return the favor.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near 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 24 Apr. 2024.
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