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

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 think we’re going to go back, talk as a group, come up with a better game plan than we had last time, make some adjustments, and go from there,” Smith said.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 13, 2021

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