return the favor

present singular third person returns the favor · participle present returning the favor · participle past returned the favor · past returned the favor · alternative UK return the favour

1. idiomaticTo do something for someone, or to someone, similar to what they did for you or to you (whether good or bad).

   They ignored my request, so I was happy to return the favor when I got the chance. [negative valence produced by sarcasm]

   3 more examples

   I did some snow shoveling for him when he was ill, and he was kind enough to return the favor this year. [positive valence]

   Having received an unearned windfall, we are in debt. The moral scales are out of balance. The canonical way to restore a measure of balance is to return the favor to our benefactor, as per symmetrical reciprocity. However, the canonical way is not the only way. Another way is to pass the favor on, as per transitive reciprocity.

   2006, David Schmidtz, The Elements of Justice, Cambridge University Press, →ISBN, page 83

   Let's say Gertrude shared some of her food with you. This recognition in turn triggers a judgment that you ought to return the favor – that is, you ought to share some of your food with Gertrude when the opportunity arises.

   2010, Scott M. James, An Introduction to Evolutionary Ethics, John Wiley & Sons, →ISBN, page 140