fight fire with fire
Counter with same
To fight fire with fire is to counter an attack or threat using the same methods as one's opponent.
The phrase comes from the firefighting technique of setting controlled burns to deprive an advancing fire of fuel.
When the tabloids started publishing rumors about her, she fought fire with fire by leaking stories about her accusers.
- eye for an eyePunishment matching the offense
- combatArmed hostile engagement
- reprisalPunitive action in return
- repelDrive off or disgust
- conflictOpposition between parties
beat them at their own game · taste of their own medicine · poetic justice · reciprocity · escalation · tit-for-tat · deterrence · counterattack · use a sledgehammer to crack a nut · opposition · confrontation · retaliation · get even · bring a knife to a gunfight · resistance · defiance · retribution · turn the tables
- fire idiomsplay with fire, fan the flames, add fuel to fire, on fire, catch fire
- idiomstime flies, hit the sack, seize the day, ring a bell, break a leg
- retributionretribution, revenge, payback, vengeance, retaliation
- conflictclash, war, battle, dispute, feud
fight fire with fireturn the other cheek
Refuse to retaliate
de-escalate · walk away · break the cycle · passive resistance · nonviolent resistance
fight fire with fireturn the other cheek
Refuse to retaliate
forgive and forget · love your enemies · nonviolence · ahimsa · reconciliation
fight fire with fireturn the other cheek
Refuse to retaliate
forgive and forget · show mercy · love your enemies · nonresistance · passive resistance