How to Use return the favor in a Sentence

return the favor

idiom
  • So, what better thing for the Boss to do than to return the favor, well, sort of.
    Spin Staff, SPIN, 16 June 2022
  • Don't worry, the girl dad made sure to return the favor.
    Andrea Wurzburger, Peoplemag, 5 Aug. 2022
  • The Bucks will then return the favor with two games in three nights at Amway Center, Dec. 28 and 30.
    Chris Hays, orlandosentinel.com, 20 Aug. 2021
  • In the trailer, Maeve sends Otis a nude photo of herself and asks him to return the favor.
    Charna Flam, Peoplemag, 12 Sep. 2023
  • People who feel cared for are far more likely to return the favor.
    Aviv Shalgi, Forbes, 7 Oct. 2021
  • In the poetic ending to this, Snyder comes back to return the favor.
    Mike Finger, San Antonio Express-News, 28 Feb. 2023
  • This time, Jones and he Patriots were more than happy to return the favor.
    Christopher Price, BostonGlobe.com, 6 Nov. 2022
  • Now, Zion Branch’s teammates are eager to return the favor.
    Houston Mitchell, Los Angeles Times, 16 Aug. 2023
  • When someone compliments you, take it in stride and return the favor.
    Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 20 Dec. 2022
  • The fan landed a punch at Dmitrović before the goalie decided to return the favor.
    Scott Thompson, Fox News, 24 Feb. 2023
  • And to return the favor, his administration refused to grant the Klan a permit to meet or march in Louisville.
    Andrew Wolfson, The Courier-Journal, 30 June 2023
  • Jones is doing her part to return the favor to others in the community.
    Vincent T. Davis, San Antonio Express-News, 4 Oct. 2021
  • With Alabama and Clemson sidelined, this was his turn to return the favor.
    Stephen Means, cleveland, 18 Nov. 2020
  • Remarkably, the bats often return the favor, providing blood to others who have helped them out in the past.
    Jack Tamisiea, Scientific American, 25 Mar. 2022
  • The Orioles couldn’t return the favor with a late swing of their own, stranding Gunnar Henderson after his two-out triple in the ninth.
    Nathan Ruiz, Baltimore Sun, 13 Sep. 2023
  • Sensing the natcons' desire to cast them out of the big tent, libertarians are quick to return the favor.
    W. James Antle Iii, The Week, 13 Feb. 2022
  • Now Knowles will return the favor and create a series of workouts for Peloton members.
    Aaron Pressman, Fortune, 11 Nov. 2020
  • If your Valentine is someone who is cheerful, bright, and always puts a smile on your face, return the favor with a bouquet of yellow and white daisies.
    Annie Goldsmith, Town & Country, 16 Dec. 2020
  • If art imitates life with this show, life has stubbornly refused to return the favor this time around.
    Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 13 Feb. 2023
  • One of those musicians got to return the favor Saturday night.
    Hannah Yasharoff, USA TODAY, 13 Nov. 2022
  • On Saturday her teammates were thrilled return the favor.
    Thuc Nhi Nguyen, Los Angeles Times, 24 Mar. 2024
  • In the friendly confines of Bryant-Denny Stadium this time around, Alabama will look to return the favor.
    Nick Alvarez | Nalvarez@al.com, al, 1 Aug. 2023
  • But if this new leak is accurate, Marvel might have decided to have Spider-Man return the favor.
    Chris Smith, BGR, 24 Jan. 2022
  • So Keane tried to return the favor when the Galaxy visited Ireland during the 2015 preseason.
    Staff Writer follow, Los Angeles Times, 24 Jan. 2023
  • Negative indebtedness is the feeling of obligation to return the favor, to pay a debt.
    Samantha Laine Perfas, The Christian Science Monitor, 21 Nov. 2023
  • After losing at home in November against Dallas, the Eagles return the favor here to keep this division race tight.
    David Moore, Dallas News, 31 Aug. 2023
  • When that man — who became a close family friend — was diagnosed with a different type of leukemia years later, Costello stepped up to return the favor.
    Wendy Grossman Kantor, Peoplemag, 20 Nov. 2023
  • After getting swept on the road last week, the Wolverines busted out their brooms to return the favor with a pair of convincing victories on Friday and Saturday.
    Josh Reed, Anchorage Daily News, 7 Mar. 2023
  • Though the Pioneers won't have a chance to return the favor, this year's two-game series will determine the Mid-State Conference softball champion.
    Brian Haenchen, The Indianapolis Star, 17 May 2022
  • After Ahmed saves his life, Kinley embarks on a personal mission to return the favor and save Ahmed’s family.
    Dallasnews.com Staff, Dallas News, 2 June 2023

Some of 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.

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