Fight fire with fire

Meaning

Respond to an attack with similar tactics.

Usage

Used to justify mirror strategies in competition.

Origin & History

Origins and dates here are approximate summaries. Many idioms have disputed or unknown origins, and not every date has been checked against a historical dictionary, so treat specific dates and stories as a starting point rather than a citation.

Firefighting advice about using backfires to contain wildfires.

Adopted metaphorically in military and business writing.