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Dictionary

Words, grammatical forms and meanings linked to the ontology.

give as good as one gets en · VERB

Pronunciation

Meanings

  1. (idiomatic) To behave toward others in a manner resembling or commensurate with their behavior towards oneself, especially in a situation where one is insulted or otherwise ill-treated.
    • The Foreign Correspondents Association's annual banquet last week turned into an angry slanging match. Botha gave as good as he got. "I am sick and tired of a lot of foreign representatives descending on my country and picking up on all the dirty work instead of all the beauty, promise and goodwill," Botha said. 1988 November 21, “World Notes SOUTH AFRICA”, in Time:
    • On balance, it was harsh on Hearts, who had given as good as they got against their more-fancied opponents, who, despite not being at full strength, fielded a multi-million pound team. 2012 August 23, Alasdair Lamont, “Hearts 0-1 Liverpool”, in BBC Sport:

Forms

SpellingFeaturesLabelsSource
gives as good as one gets Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres lexicographic
gave as good as one got Tense=Past lexicographic
giving as good as one gets Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part lexicographic
given as good as one got Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part lexicographic

Relateds

pay back in kind · give someone a run for their money · as good as it gets · give someone a taste of their own medicine · pay back in someone's own coin · stick up for oneself

Translations (7)

pl odpłacić pięknym za nadobne (Translations) · fr avoir de la repartie (Translations) · pl odpłacać pięknym za nadobne (Translations) · fr rendre coup pour coup (Translations) · fi maksaa samalla mitalla (Translations) · fr avoir du répondant (Translations) · fi iskeä takaisin (Translations)