tac-au-tac
/ˈtakəʊˌtak
/noun Fencing
A parry combined with a riposte.To disarm an adversary counts for nothing, but a tac-au-tac riposte against a disarmed adversary is good....
- The retort was in the nature of the tac-au-tac riposte beloved of the skilled swordsman.
Origin
Early 20th century: French, literally 'clash for clash', from imitative tac.