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talk back

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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

talk back (to somebody)

to answer rudely They were arrested on minor charges after talking back to a police officer. In my family, kids just never talked back.

Etymology: based on the literal meaning of talk back (to answer someone)

See also: back, talk

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

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