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snap back

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snap back (on someone or something)

[for something] to be jerked back onto someone or something. The branch snapped back on Tim and left a welt on his arm. The whip snapped back and stung Tex's hand.

See also: back, snap

snap back

(at someone) to give a sharp or angry response to someone. The telephone operator, unlike in the good old days, snapped back at the caller. Please don't snap back. I've had a bad day.

See also: back, snap

snap back (on someone or something)

[for something] to be jerked back onto someone or something. The branch snapped back on Tim and left a welt on his arm. The whip snapped back and stung Tex's hand.

See also: back, snap

snap something back

to cause something to jerk back. The force of the crash snapped his head back and injured his neck. The crash snapped back his head.

See also: back, snap

snap back

Rebound from a setback, recover quickly, as in I think we'll snap back quickly from this business downturn. This idiom transfers the sudden release of tension on, for example, a branch to other kinds of recovery. [First half of 1900s]

See also: back, snap

snap back

v.

1. To recover quickly: The patient snapped back quickly after surgery.

2. To utter a sharp retort: I asked a simple question, but the clerk snapped back with a mean remark.

See also: back, snap