colpo su colpo

Italian

Etymology

Literally, “blow on blow”. Compare French coup sur coup.

Adverb

colpo su colpo

1. (idiomatic) promptly, in a tit for tat way
   • 2020 September 28, Alberto Flores D'Arcais, “Corte suprema, i democratici pronti a dare battaglia a Trump sulla nomina di Amy Coney Barrett [Supreme Court, Democrats ready to do battle with Trump on the nomination of Amy Coney Barrett]”, in la Repubblica‎^[1]:

     Con Trump che procede diritto per la sua strada con un occhio rivolto all'elettorato evangelico e cattolico ("lei potrebbe spingere la Corte a rivedere la legge sull’aborto") cresce tra i senatori democratici la voglia di rispondere colpo su colpo.

     With Trump proceeding straight on his own way with an eye on the Evangelical and Catholic electorate ("she could push the Court to revisit the law on abortion") the desire to respond tit for tat is growing among Democratic senators.

Usage notes

• Typically preceded by rispondere (“to respond”), ribattere (“to retort”), and similar.