fought fire with fire
Returned in kind
Fought fire with fire is the past tense of fight fire with fire—to counter an attack or threat using the same methods or tactics as one's opponent.
The phrase comes from the practice of setting controlled burns to stop wildfires by depriving them of fuel.
When the smear campaign started, she fought fire with fire and released damaging information about her rival.
- eye for an eyePunishment matching the offense
- tooth for a toothEquivalent retaliation principle
- retaliationPunitive response to injury
- controlled burnIntentional fire for land management
- counterattackOffensive response to aggression
beat them at their own game · tit-for-tat · taste of their own medicine · offense · fight fire with fire · turn the tables · strategy · confrontation · resistance · play with fire · add fuel to the fire · escalation · risk management · rivalry · blaze · inferno · up in flames · scorch
fought fire with firekilled with kindness
Harmed by excessive generosity
de-escalated · walked away · backed down · disengaged · let it go
fought, fights, fighting, fighter, fighters, firing, firearm, fireman, firefighter