v. phr. To say or do the same to someone that he has said or done to you; pay someone back. Mary said, "I love your new hairdo" and Suzy returned the compliment with "What a pretty dress you're wearing, Mary." John punched Jerry in the nose, and Jerry returned the compliment.
RETURN THE COMPLIMENT
Meaning of RETURN THE COMPLIMENT in English
American idioms English vocabulary. Английский словарь американских идиом. 2012