return fire

return fire
   to attack without warning
   Nazi Germany's internal justification of the invasion of Poland, and later of Holland:
    According to the National Socialists, the war began today, on 3rd September 1939, as a result of groundless declaration of war by the English and the French. In 1st September 1939 we merely 'returned Polish fire'. (Klemperer, 1999, in translation — diary entry of 3 September 1944)

How not to say what you mean: A dictionary of euphemisms. . 2014.

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  • Return Fire — Infobox VG| title = Return Fire developer = Silent Software, Inc. publisher = Prolific Publishing (3DO) Williams Entertainment (PC) Midway Games (PSOne) designer = Baron R. K. Von Wolfsheild, Alexis Kasperavičius, Will Ware, Van Arno engine =… …   Wikipedia

  • return fire — gunshots that are fired in response to enemy fire …   English contemporary dictionary

  • Fire and Movement — is a military tactic that uses suppressive fire, or threat thereof, to decrease the enemy s ability to return fire, organization and unit cohesion, and morale. The tactic is used by small unit commanders on the modern battlefield. The movement… …   Wikipedia

  • fire — I [[t]fa͟ɪ͟ə(r)[/t]] BURNING, HEAT, OR ENTHUSIASM ♦♦ fires, firing, fired (Please look at category 18 to see if the expression you are looking for is shown under another headword.) 1) N UNCOUNT Fire is the hot, bright flames produced by things… …   English dictionary

  • Fire Power (video game) — Infobox VG| title = Fire Power developer = Silent Software, Inc. publisher = MicroIllusions designer = Baron R. K. Von Wolfsheild engine = released = 1987, 1988 genre = Action game modes = Single or multi player ratings = platforms = Amiga, Apple …   Wikipedia

  • return — [[t]rɪtɜ͟ː(r)n[/t]] ♦ returns, returning, returned 1) VERB When you return to a place, you go back there after you have been away. [V to/from n] There are unconfirmed reports that Aziz will return to Moscow within hours... [V to/from n] Our… …   English dictionary

  • return — 1 verb 1 GO BACK (I) to go back to a place where you were before, or come back from a place where you have just been (+ to): Conor did not return to Ireland until 1937. (+ from): When Alice returned from university, she was a changed person. |… …   Longman dictionary of contemporary English

  • return — re|turn1 W1S2 [rıˈtə:n US ə:rn] v ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ 1¦(go back)¦ 2¦(give back)¦ 3¦(feeling/situation)¦ 4¦(do the same)¦ 5¦(answer)¦ 6¦(ball)¦ 7¦(elect)¦ 8 return a verdict 9¦(profit)¦ Phrasal verbs …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • Fire-control system — Note: the term fire control may also refer to means of stopping a fire, such as sprinkler systems. A fire control system is a computer, often mechanical, which is designed to assist a weapon system in hitting its target. It performs the same task …   Wikipedia

  • return — I. verb Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo French returner, from re + turner, tourner to turn more at turn Date: 14th century intransitive verb 1. a. to go back or come back again < return home > b. to go back in thought, practice, or… …   New Collegiate Dictionary

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