return the favor
idiom
: to do something the same or similar in return for something done
He treats them well, and they return the favor.
Examples of return the favor in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
But this Neanderthal girl -- who suffered from health issues such as hearing loss, imbalance problems and vertigo -- likely could not return the favor, so her survival appears to be based purely on the altruism of the adults around her, Conde-Valverde said.
—
Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 26 June 2024
On July 11, the pop trio will return the favor, speaking as Ballard gets a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
—Paul Grein, Billboard, 1 July 2024
Of course, be sure to return the favor and offer to host your new friends in return—or treat them to a meal or two.
—Layla Quaedvlieg, Condé Nast Traveler, 17 July 2024
The upsides of this move are notional and long-term: Russia might someday return the favor by supporting Chinese territorial aspirations or cooperating on revising the structures of global governance.
—Jude Blanchette, Foreign Affairs, 21 Feb. 2022
See all Example Sentences for return the favor 
Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 26 June 2024
On July 11, the pop trio will return the favor, speaking as Ballard gets a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
—Paul Grein, Billboard, 1 July 2024
Of course, be sure to return the favor and offer to host your new friends in return—or treat them to a meal or two.
—Layla Quaedvlieg, Condé Nast Traveler, 17 July 2024
The upsides of this move are notional and long-term: Russia might someday return the favor by supporting Chinese territorial aspirations or cooperating on revising the structures of global governance.
—Jude Blanchette, Foreign Affairs, 21 Feb. 2022
See all Example Sentences for return the favor
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'return the favor.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near return the favor
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“Return the favor.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/return%20the%20favor. Accessed 29 Sep. 2024.
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