back talk

American  

[bak tawk] / ˈbæk ˌtɔk /

Or backtalk

noun

1. rude or disrespectful replies to the requests or directives of an authority figure; sass.

   That kind of back talk will get her in trouble at school.

   Synonyms:

   cheek, impertinence, insolence

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verb (used with or without object)

1. to reply to (someone in authority) in a rude or disrespectful manner.

   They back-talk to their parents and have never really had any discipline.

   Don't back-talk me, son.

Etymology

Origin of back talk

First recorded in 1855–60

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

back talk

The party's strategy is to fight back, talk up the likelihood of a snap election next spring and unveil plans for their first 100 days in government.

From BBC ● Sep. 4, 2026

MANCHESTER, England — Manchester United won a hat trick of monthly Premier League awards on Friday to push back talk of a crisis for manager Erik ten Hag.

From Washington Times ● Dec. 8, 2023

Germany's economy, Europe's largest, also saw dramatic falls in May, with the index on the current situation dipping to -9.0 from -2.3 in April, bringing back talk about a recession.

From Reuters ● May 8, 2023

Her father, a Greek immigrant, didn’t tolerate back talk.

From Washington Post ● Mar. 7, 2023

I can walk without seeing how I look from the back, talk without hearing the way I sound.

From "Cat's Eye" by Margaret Atwood

Related Words

• answer back
• talk back