talk back (to one)
talk back (to one)
To answer, respond, or interrupt in a rude or impertinent manner; to sass. If you don't stop talking back like that, you'll be going to bed with no dinner! The student got detention for talking back to her teacher.
See also: back, talk
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
talk back (to someone)
to challenge verbally a parent, an older person, or one's superior. Please don't talk back to me! I've told you before not to talk back!
See also: back, talk
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
talk back
Also, answer back. Reply rudely or impertinently, as in She was always in trouble for talking back, or The teacher won't allow anyone to answer back to her. [Second half of 1800s]
See also: back, talk
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
talk back
v.
1. To respond to someone rudely or inappropriately: The servants were not supposed to talk back to their masters.
2. To make a hostile response: The enemy's guns are talking back.
3. To respond to a signal or transmission, especially through a path of electronic communication: My computer is sending information through the modem, but the network computer is not talking back.
See also: back, talk
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs.
- talk back
- sass back
- smart off
- None of your lip!
- cut (someone or something) short
- cut short
- cut somebody short
- cut something short
- pull an attitude
- pull an attitude (with one)