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The meaning and origin of the expression: Tit for tat

Tit for tat

What's the meaning of the phrase 'Tit for tat'?

A blow or some other retaliation in return for an injury from another.

What's the origin of the phrase 'Tit for tat'?

It's tempting to assume that this little phrase is another way of saying 'this for that' and, in a way, it is. 'Tit' and 'tat' are both the names of small blows which originated as 'tip' and 'tap'. These are recorded by Charles, Duke of Orleans in a book of poems that he wrote while captive in England after the battle of Agincourt and first published circa 1466:

"Strokis grete, not tippe nor tapp."

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The widespread unconcern about spelling and pronunciation in the Middle Ages led to 'tip', 'tap', 'tit' and 'tat' all to be variant spellings. John Heywood appears to be the first to have used 'tit for tat', in the parable The Spider and the Flie, 1556:

"That is tit for tat in this altricacion [altercation]."

In the 20th century, 'tit for tat' was the source of the Cockney rhyming slang 'titfer', meaning hat. The renowned lexicographer of slang Eric Partridge listed that in 1930, in Songs & Slang of the British Soldier:

Tit-for, tit-for-tat, that is, hat.

Tommy Trinder - titfer tatThis usage was popularised by the British comedian Tommy Trinder who, although he was born several miles from the sound of Bow Bells, in Streatham, London, and hence not strictly a cockney, exemplified cockney style to most people. He was rarely seen in public without his titfer tat.

Most recently still, 'tit for tat' has been used as the name of the strategy in the classic logic problem of game theory, the Prisoner's Dilemma. This strategy, which has since been applied successfully in many real life situations, recommends a like for like retaliation as the most rewarding response to duplicity by one's opponent.

Gary Martin - the author of the phrases.org.uk website.

By Gary Martin

Gary Martin is a writer and researcher on the origins of phrases and the creator of the Phrase Finder website. Over the past 26 years more than 700 million of his pages have been downloaded by readers. He is one of the most popular and trusted sources of information on phrases and idioms.

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