tit for tat

Dictionary of American Words And Phrases by John Russell Bartlett.

The phrase "tit for tat, if you kill my dog I'll kill your cat," is among the provincialisms of Hants, and means, that I shall treat you as you treat me.--Holloway. In the United States this phrase is very common.


"Ah, me! your reverence's sister,

Ten times I carnaly have--kissed her."

"All's fair," returns the reverend brother;

"I've done the samer with your mother

Three times as aft; and sae for that

We're on a level, tit for tat."--Allan Ramsay, Poems.

Related Words