return fire
Answer with bullets
Return fire is gunfire directed back at someone who has shot at you: The patrol came under attack and immediately returned fire.
The phrase appears in military and law enforcement contexts, where it often carries legal weight—returning fire implies a defensive response rather than initiating violence.
Figuratively, to return fire is to respond to criticism or attack in kind: The senator returned fire, accusing her opponent of hypocrisy.
Offensive response to aggression
- responseAnswer to stimulus
- reprisalPunitive action in return
- retaliationPunitive response to injury
- paybackRetaliation for wrongs
reciprocation · reaction · comeback · retort · counterstrike · riposte
Simultaneous firing burst
- salvoSimultaneous weapons discharge
- barrageSustained, overwhelming attack
- gunfireDischarge of weapons
- crossfireGunfire from several angles
exchange · shooting · counterfire · rifle · artillery · mortar · machine gun · ammunition
Forcible prevention or concealment
- coverProtect by overlaying
- protectionGuarding against harm
- entrenchmentFortified or fixed position
- positionLocation or stance
emplacement · fortification · bunker · trench · garrison · perimeter · strongpoint · defensive position
counterattack
Offensive response to aggression
- responseAnswer to stimulus
- reprisalPunitive action in return
- retaliationPunitive response to injury
payback · reciprocation · reaction · comeback · retort · counterstrike · riposte
volley
Simultaneous firing burst
crossfire · exchange · shooting · counterfire · rifle · artillery · mortar · machine gun · ammunition · flank
suppression
Forcible prevention or concealment
- coverProtect by overlaying
- protectionGuarding against harm
- entrenchmentFortified or fixed position
position · emplacement · fortification · bunker · trench · garrison · perimeter · strongpoint · defensive position
- counterattackscounterattack, counterblow, counterstrike, counterpunch, counteroffensive
- gunfireshoot, gunshot, gunfire, blast, report
- retributionretribution, revenge, payback, vengeance, retaliation
- Unintended Consequencesbackfire, blowback, backlash, own goal, Streisand effect
return fireopen fire
Begin discharging weapons
strike first · first strike · preemptive strike · unprovoked attack · ambush
return firehold fire
Command to pause attacking
stand down · cease fire · surrender · lay down arms · de-escalate
return, fire, returns, returned, returning, returnable, fires, fired, firing