answer back

verb

1. (adverb) to reply rudely to (a person, esp someone in authority) when one is expected to remain silent

Idioms and Phrases

see talk back.

Example Sentences

The Dodgers would answer back in the fifth, scoring twice after Ohtani hit an RBI double in the gap and scored on a single from Freeman in the next at-bat.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen told reporters that "from a European perspective there is only one country... willing to threaten us and that is Russia, and therefore we need a very strong answer back".

Read more on BBC

"Our geologists are beyond excited for our eyes to look at the Moon, and we've been training how to turn those observations into answering some of the biggest questions of our time, questions like Are we alone? We can answer that by going to Mars in the future, and this mission can be the first step in bringing that answer back to team humanity".

Read more on BBC

After Melvin threw Neeson’s answer back at him, the actor suggested the morning news personality was stirring the pot, moving his arms in a circle.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The Nationals’ 5-4 lead lasted until Irvin exited the game at the start of the seventh — opening the door for the Dodgers to finally answer back.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• acknowledge 
• argue 
• claim 
• defend 
• deny 
• explain 
• plead 
• resolve 
• respond 
• return 
• say 
• solve