tit for tat

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Contents

[edit] English

[edit] Noun

Singular
tit for tat

Plural
tit for tats

tit for tat (plural tit for tats)

  1. (idiomatic) equivalent retribution, an eye for an eye, returning exactly what you get.
    If you hit me, I'll hit you back; tit for tat.
  2. (Cockney rhyming slang) hat.

[edit] Translations

returning exactly what you get

[edit] Adjective

tit for tat (not comparable)

Positive
tit for tat

Comparative
not comparable

Superlative
none (absolute)
  1. Having the characteristic of returning bad for bad.
    Unfortunately, many adults retain a tit-for-tat attitude, but in a more refined way than the simple, childish shove for shove.
    • From The Guardian June, 22 2007.
      Amid fears that the end to more than five and a half years of talks would lead to a new era of tit-for-tat protectionism, negotiations between the United States and the European Union broke down.

[edit] Usage notes

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As an adjective, tit-for-tat uses hyphens.

It is also a term used in Game Theory, Links to wipipedia needed and a very short explanation of the meaning in that field

[edit] Derived terms

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