answered back
Gave lip to
Answered back is the past tense of answer back, meaning to reply defiantly or rudely to someone in authority: She answered back when her mother told her to clean her room.
The phrase implies insubordination—a child answering back to a parent, an employee to a boss.
Simply replying isn't answering back; the element of defiance is essential.
Quick, cutting reply
- sassImpertinent verbal attitude
- backtalkInsolent verbal response
- insolenceBold, offensive disrespect
- cheekAudacity or facial side
impudence · lip · attitude · disrespect · mouthing off · sauciness · pertness · impertinence
Verbal or written answer
- responseAnswer to stimulus
- rejoinderReply to a reply
- riposteSwift clever reply
- counterFlat service surface
comeback · refutation · counterargument · retort · objection · contradiction · denial · retaliation
Punishing a wrongdoer
- paybackRetaliation for wrongs
- reciprocationMutual exchange of actions
- tit-for-tatEquivalent retaliation strategy
- getting evenReciprocating a wrong
counterattack · reprisal · retribution · settling scores · comeuppance · vengeance
retort
Quick, cutting reply
cheek · impudence · lip · attitude · disrespect · mouthing off · sauciness · pertness · impertinence · rudeness
reply
Verbal or written answer
counter · comeback · refutation · counterargument · retort · objection · contradiction · denial · retaliation · parry
revenge
Punishing a wrongdoer
- paybackRetaliation for wrongs
- reciprocationMutual exchange of actions
- tit-for-tatEquivalent retaliation strategy
getting even · counterattack · reprisal · retribution · settling scores · comeuppance · vengeance
answer, answered, back, answers, answering, answerable, unanswered, unanswerable, backs