svara í sömu mynt

Icelandic edit

Etymology edit

From svara (“to answer”) and í (“in”) and sömu (“same”) and mynt (“a coin”), meaning "to answer in the same coin" or "pay back in the same coin".

Verb edit

svara í sömu mynt (weak verb, third-person singular past indicative svaraði í sömu mynt, supine svarað í sömu mynt)

(idiomatic, transitive, intransitive, governs the dative) to hit back
(idiomatic, transitive, intransitive, governs the dative) to retaliate, to reciprocate
(idiomatic, transitive, intransitive, governs the dative, e.g. a compliment) to return

Synonyms edit

(hit back): slá til baka
(retaliate): gjalda líku líkt, hefna sín
(return): endurgjalda, launa fyrir sig