1. return fire - Noun
2. return fire - Verb
return fire (uncountable)
(military) The firing initiated after receiving incoming fire.
return fire (third-person singular simple present returns fire, present participle returning fire, simple past and past participle returned fire)
(military) To shoot at the person from whom fire is being received
If you take a shot at someone, you keep firing until they can no longer return fire. Wound them, and you have an angry enemy who knows your position. Karen Traviss