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the point of no return

the time in an activity when you cannot stop doing it but must continue to the end. And although I was bored, I'd already spent so much time doing the research for the novel that I felt I'd reached the point of no return.

See also: point

return the compliment

to do something for someone because they have done something for you. Thanks for looking after the house while we were away. I hope I'll be able to return the compliment some time.

See also: compliment

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in return (for something)

in exchange for something. As a teenager, he worked at a nearby golf course in return for lessons.

return the compliment

1. to do something for someone because they have done something for you. Our neighbors looked after the house while we were away, and we'll return the compliment when they go on vacation.

2. to do or say something unfriendly to someone because they have made you angry. The batter was thrown out of the game, so he returned the compliment by calling the umpire a fool.

return the favor

See also: compliment

return the favor

to do something similar to someone who has behaved badly to you. The other team's fans are nasty to us, and our fans can't wait to return the favor.

return the compliment

Etymology: based on the literal meaning of return the favor (= to do something similar for someone who has done something good for you)

See also: favor