return favor
Give back equally
To return a favor is to repay a kindness or helpful act with one of your own.
Someone does something for you; later, you do something for them: She drove me to the airport last month, so I'm returning the favor by watching her dog.
The phrase implies reciprocity and social balance—debts of goodwill should be settled.
- reciprocateReturn in kind
- repayReturn money owed
- in kindWith similar return
- paybackRetaliation for wrongs
- gratitudeThankfulness for kindness received
owe you one · kindness · good turn · debt · social debt · obligation · owe · exchange · mutual · mutual aid · gesture · thank · generosity · goodwill · quid pro quo · karma · pay it forward · balance
- Exchangeexchange, barter, swap, trade-in, trade-off
- reciprocityreciprocity, likewise, mutual benefit, mutualism, two-way street
- exchangestrading, swap, swapping, barter, bartering
- informal agreementsverbal agreement, oral agreement, handshake deal, gentleman's agreement, verbal contract
- fair exchangesbarter, swap, trade, fair trade, exchange rate
reciprocity
return favoringratitude
Lack of appreciation
take for granted · stab in the back · freeload · betray · mooch
return, favor, returns, returned, returning, returnable, favors, favored, favoring