bites back
Responds with force
To bite back is to retaliate or respond aggressively after being attacked or criticized.
Someone who has been mocked or mistreated bites back when they finally push back: After months of criticism, she bit back with a scathing op-ed.
The phrase can also mean to suppress something—biting back tears, biting back a retort—holding it in rather than letting it escape.
- reprisalPunitive action in return
- vengeanceRetaliation for injury
- sweet revengeGratifying retaliation
- self-defenseProtecting oneself from harm
- poetic justiceFitting outcome matching misdeeds
anger · retaliation · counterattack · pushback · boomerang effect · indignation · comeback · last laugh · karma · taste of their own medicine · tit-for-tat · payback · resistance · dog eat dog · resentment · outrage · spitefulness · irony
bites backforgives
Ceases to blame
holds back · walks away · bites one's tongue · keeps the peace
bites backsubmits
Yields to authority
surrenders · yields · backs down · gives in · capitulates
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