2006-07-25 01:11:29 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Other - Society & Culture
The original was Tip for Tap, a very old expression that evolved into tit for tat in the mid-16th century. Tip meant a hit, a shove. Tap was a retaliatory hit. The meaning is a punishment meted out to pay back an offence, measured to be equal and proportionate. You hit me, I hit you, tit for tat. By the way, tit for tat turns out to be the optimal strategy in Game Theory to guarantee cooperation from an opponent.
2006-07-25 01:15:36 · answer #1 · answered by Sophhz 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It comes from an old New Zealand children's game called Tittle-Tattle. The t_ts and tats were originally dried seeds from two different species of wild flowers, but nowadays the kids use manufactured games with plastic playing pieces. My uncle was a merchant seaman and gave me a game of Tittle-Tattle that he obtained on one of his voyages. However, I was not interested enough to play it more than once. One of the moves in the game is exchanging a tittle for a tattle, or a "tit for a tat".
2006-07-25 08:20:57 · answer #2 · answered by Doctor Hand 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Probably the same as: "An eye for an eye; a tooth for a tooth."
2006-07-25 08:34:15 · answer #3 · answered by alchemist0750 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
What comes around, go's around.
2006-07-25 08:33:32 · answer #4 · answered by Rick 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This for that.
2006-07-25 08:14:47 · answer #5 · answered by kitty fresh & hissin' crew 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Dunno, but I wish I knew how tat managed it.
2006-07-25 08:14:42 · answer #6 · answered by Gallivanting Galactic Gadfly 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋