give tit for tat

give (one) tit for tat

To retaliate against one. The phrase is most likely an alteration of the Dutch phrase "tip for tap," which means "blow for blow." A: "Shelly's mad at you?" B: "Yep, and she's giving me tit for tat by refusing to help me plan this event." I know your brother hit you, but you don't have to give him tit for tat—find a better solution than that.
See also: give, tat, tit
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

give someone tit for tat

Fig. to give someone something equal to what was given you; to exchange a series of very similar things, one by one, with someone. They gave me the same kind of difficulty that I gave them. They gave me tit for tat. He punched me, so I punched him. Every time he hit me, I hit him. I just gave him tit for tat.
See also: give, tat, tit
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
See also:
  • give (one) tit for tat
  • tat
  • tit for tat
  • at one blow
  • Blow on it!
  • blow over
  • blow chunks
  • grits
  • grocery
  • blow one’s groceries
References in classic literature
But she is naturally a more irritable constitution than the black horse; flies tease her more; anything wrong in the harness frets her more; and if she were ill-used or unfairly treated she would not be unlikely to give tit for tat. You know that many high-mettled horses will do so."
Black Beauty
He underlined that Nawaz Sharif persuaded Asif Ali Zardari and the latter said he will give tit for tat response.
Bilawal should be careful in dealing with Sharif family: Aitzaz Ahsan
The Pakistani nation was united and our armed forces was capable to give tit for tat response to enemy, he said.
Collective response to enemy's aggression hallmark of Pakistani nation: Brig Faisal
They said Pakistan Army is best the worlds armies which is all time ready to defend frontiers of the country and give tit for tat response to enemy.
People throng roads in jubilation in Hangu
Clemente Ruiz Dura, coordinator of the Postgraduate Economics Program at Mexico's National Autonomous University (UNAM), said the two factions will give tit for tat at the summit.
G20 to focus on global economic growth
His dirty talk does not shock her, and she can give tit for tat. In fact, Osnat Shtiebel may well become a byword for the strong, independent Israeli woman who can confront machos squarely and, when necessary, strike a well-aimed blow at their vulnerable spots.
Shtei Shilgiot
He said that earlier to this, the police force has nominal guns for battling trained and well equipped terrorists but by Grace of God, now the police force was capable to give tit for tat response to terrorists' attacks.
Hoti for autonomy of police under Police Order 2002
The Pakistan Army has all the potential and capabilities to give a befitting reply to the intruders.They said Pakistan Army is best in the worlds armies which isall time ready to defend frontiers of the country and give tit for tat responseto enemy.They said that entire nation was standing shoulder toshoulder with the country's armed forces and would leave no stone unturned tooffer sacrifice for the defense of their motherland.
People throng roads in jubilation over shooting down Indian aircrafts, distribute sweets