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return the favor

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return the favor

to do a good deed for someone who has done a good deed for you. You helped me last week, so I'll return the favor and help you this week. There is no point in helping Bill He'll never return the favor.

See also: favor, return

return the favor

to do something similar to someone who has behaved badly to you The other team's fans are nasty to us, and our fans can't wait to return the favor.

Related vocabulary: return the compliment

Etymology: based on the literal meaning of return the favor (to do something similar for someone who has done something good for you)

See also: favor, return