turnabout is fair play
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Sense 1
Meaning · English
It is allowable to retaliate against an enemy's dirty tricks by using the same ones against them.
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Examples
My Endeavours were used to perplex their Thoughts and Judgments; I told them, that at next Wednesday’s Dinner I hoped we would be informed who were to rule the Roast, that hitherto honest Men were kept from shuffling the Cards, because they would cast Knaves out from the Company of Kings, but we wou
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Sense 2
Meaning · English
Taking turns is morally right.
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “turnabout is fair play” mean?
It is allowable to retaliate against an enemy's dirty tricks by using the same ones against them.
Is “turnabout is fair play” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.