Fight fire with fire

Posted by Victoria S Dennis on October 27, 2005

In Reply to: Fight fire with fire posted by Kate on October 27, 2005

: What does it mean to say "fight fire with fire"?
- Sometimes, when fighting a forest fire, it's a good move to start a controlled fire yourself in order to create a strip of burnt ground to act as a firebreak. Thus to "fight fire with fire" is to counter a threat by responding in kind. For example, if someone starts a nasty rumour about you, you could "fight fire with fire" by starting a counter-rumour about them. (VSD)

• Fight fire with fire Lewis 27/October/05