What does the phrase "返す刀" mean?


I've tried looking this up in English--Japanese dictionaries with no luck. I
did however get a few results in monolingual dictionaries but I still don't
understand what it's supposed to mean and in what context it may be used. Any
help is appreciated!




「返{かえ}す刀{かたな}」 is a set phrase meaning " **attempting an attack on a second or
different party on an impetus/momentum gained from the success of one's attack
on the first or original party** ".

In other words, your second attack was encouraged by the success of your
first.

It does not have to be a physical attack, let alone a sword attack as 「刀」
means "sword". The expression is often used to describe a **_verbal_** attack.

The expression is used mostly adverbially in the form of 「返す刀 **で** + Verb
Phrase」.

Finally, I feel I would need to mention the fact that this phrase is quite
often used incorrectly by us native speakers. That incorrect meaning is "
**counterattack** " or " **fighting back** ".

[This page](http://yourei.jp/%E8%BF%94%E3%81%99%E5%88%80) will give you some
example sentences.

