turnabout is fair play

turnabout is fair play

1. It is fair for each person to have the opportunity to do something. Let your little brother play the video game now. Come on, turnabout is fair play.
2. It is fair for someone to suffer the pain that they have inflicted on others. If you start rumors about other people, they'll eventually do the same thing to you. Turnabout is fair play, after all.
See also: fair, play, turnabout
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

Turnabout is fair play.

Prov. It is fair for one to suffer whatever one has caused others to suffer. So, you don't like being made fun of! Well, turnabout is fair play.
See also: fair, play, turnabout
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

turnabout is fair play

Taking alternate or successive turns at doing something is just and equitable. For example, Come on, I want to sit in the front seat now-turnabout is fair play. This justification for taking turns was first recorded in 1755.
See also: fair, play, turnabout
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.

turn the tables, to

To reverse the situation between two persons or groups, especially so as to gain the upper hand. This term comes from the custom of reversing the table or board in games like chess and draughts, so that the opponents’ relative positions are switched. It was being used figuratively as long ago as 1612, when George Chapman wrote (The Widow’s Tears, 1.3), “I may turn the tables with you ere long.” Another cliché with the same meaning is turnabout is fair play, which dates from the nineteenth century. Robert Louis Stevenson used it in one of his last works, The Wrecker (1892): “You had your chance then; seems to me it’s mine now. Turn about’s fair play.”
See also: turn
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer
See also:
  • turnabout
  • fair play to someone
  • fair up
  • faired
  • fairing
  • fair off
  • fair dos
  • fair do's
  • a fair crack at something
  • be fair
References in periodicals archive
Of course, Democrats are attempting to delay the Kavanaugh confirmation hearing, but just remember -- turnabout is fair play.
Challenger's ideas wrong for district
(Turnabout is fair play.) Says ccd Mikal Reich: "The Kraken Rum is dark and fun, like its fans.
Putting squeeze on rum lovers
It's part of his job to get on the backs of Sox players who aren't performing -- so if a pro comes at his back with a folding chair, well, turnabout is fair play.
A Guy Named Joe Takes One for the Team
But turnabout is fair play, and there's a frenzy of tie-ins timed to Us DVD of the "Kong" redo.
DVD doubles the fun
If some ideas are now flowing in the opposite direction, it might be well to remember the adage "Turnabout is fair play."
In mass retailing there are no exclusive ideas
When it comes to propaganda, it appears that turnabout is fair play.
Playing for respect: Alexander Galloway on video games in 2003
Turnabout is fair play for Mikron Woodworking Machinery Inc.
Mikron wins award, gives award. (Trends & News)
Deciding that turnabout is fair play, members will also urge local authorities to impose more stringent laboratory controls and inspection measures on all commodities, particularly food and feed imported from the EU--and call for destruction of any food products from the EU that test positive for the two antibiotics.
Southeast Asian exporters crying `foul' over discriminatory EU shrimp barriers
Turnabout is fair play, so the amorous man is forced to flee a newly aggressive Tea woman at the conclusion of his variation.
NUTCRACKERS, NOTCRACKERS AND JOY TO THE WORLD
They say turnabout is fair play. But it seems Matt Drudge doesn't agree.
The Nation
Turnabout is fair play, or so they say, and, if so, I have received my justice.
A widow goes a long way
Turnabout is fair play. I asked all three men how they felt about the ethics of their critics in the environmental community.
The Los Utes case: forestry seeks its soul; frank talk about a bungled timber sale stirs up ghosts of Pinchot and Leopold and poses haunting questions about environmental ethics
"I think Lisa Rinna totally realized how badly Dorit and PK treated me, and turnabout is fair play," she said (via (http://www.usmagazine.com/entertainment/news/erika-praises-rinna-for-going-at-dorit-in-rhobh-sneak-peek-w473832) Us Weekly ).
Erika Girardi Shows No Sympathy For Dorit In 'RHOBH' Preview
You've probably heard about syncing up Pink Floyd's "Dark Side of the Moon" as an alternate soundtrack to "The Wizard of Oz." For the New Zone Gallery, it appears turnabout is fair play.
BRIEFLY
"Turnabout is fair play and we should take the opportunity to `serve' the volunteers now," Mr.
Town officials to laud volunteers; Dinner planned to thank helpers