Я тоже в долгу не оставалась.
I wonder if this is an idiomatic phrase that either means paying someone back for something bad or repaying someone for something good, depending on context?
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Sign up to join this communityЯ тоже в долгу не оставалась.
I wonder if this is an idiomatic phrase that either means paying someone back for something bad or repaying someone for something good, depending on context?
Yes, не оста́ться в долгу́
is an idiomatic phrase meaning (be quick) to repay someone like for like, either for good or bad. When said about a good thing, the phrase can mean literally 'not to remain indebted', 'to repay':
On the flip side, the phrase can mean 'hit back when you are hit', 'make a move when your opponent makes a move':
In your example the verb is imperfective past feminine (остава́лась) which means that she is either very competitive or she likes returning the good done to her. I'd recommend that you find out which it is before dating her. ;)
"В долгу не остаться" may be used with good things as well as bad things.
In this case, as a standalone sentence in an imperfective form, I would say it's rather negative than positive. But this might be just my own perception.
Не остаться в долгу у кого (перед кем) - Отплатить кому-л. тем же самым (поступком, отношением и т.п.) - i.e. pay back with a similar attitude, action, etc.
source: paper copy Толковый словарь (Кузнецов). link http://slovariki.org/tolkovyj-slovar-kuznecova/13593 (a diamond sign means phraseological use)
Situations of usage:
Я в долгу не останусь. A promise to pay back even more for a favor from someone who's typically not a close friend. In some rare context it can be a threat.
Я в долгу не остался. I paid back (likely) even more to someone. Idiomatically, it can mean fighting back (in proper context).
Я в долгу не оставался. (imperfective sense) Each time I gave a proper answer to somebody acting against me (or was continuously fighting back).