bite back

verb

tr, adverb to restrain (a hurtful, embarrassing, or indiscreet remark); avoid saying

It was all that the Countess de Santiago could do to bite back the threat which alone could have given her relief.

There was only one consolation in it for him—for the first time in a long number of years he was in position to bite back.

The animal desire to bite back at anything that moved did not last long, it focused properly upon the person of his tormentor.

As the ludicrousness of the farce broke over me I had to bite back unsolemn roars of laughter.

I'm ready to treat with people that are reasonable, but when they bite me I bite back.

April 20, 2024flabbergast

[flab-er-gast ]

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