bite back

British

verb

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

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

They probably saw who had them and decided to stay in their shells till they were big enough to bite back.

From Literature

They all murmured in agreement, and Boaz had to bite back the urge to laugh.

From Literature

But watching huge crowds march through Budapest to celebrate gay pride, free speech and the right to assemble - all in defiance of the ban - many wonder: could the liberal worldview bite back?

From BBC

The captain's bite back at the media probably confirmed that Bethell will be in the squad for the first Test against India, but not the XI.

From BBC

With his father sat beside him, he refused to bite back and felt "no pressure" in a bid to extend his 23-fight unbeaten record.

From BBC

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023