backtalk

English

Etymology

back +‎ talk

Noun

backtalk (uncountable)

1. (US) Verbal impudence or argumentative discourse, given in response.

   Don't give me any backtalk; just go clean your room.

Synonyms

• (verbal impudence or argument): backchat (UK), derision, lip, sass, rebuttal

Related terms

• backchat (UK)

Translations

verbal impudence or argument

• Bulgarian: дързък отговор m (dǎrzǎk otgovor), остроумно възраже́ние n (ostroumno vǎzražénie)
• Chinese:

  Cantonese: 駁嘴, 驳嘴 (bok³ zeoi²)

• Dutch: tegenspraak (nl)

• Finnish: vastaväite
• German: Widerworte (de) n pl
• Irish: gearr-aighneas m, gearrchaint f, seanchaint f, aibéil chainte f
• Russian: де́рзкий отве́т m (dérzkij otvét), ре́зкое возраже́ние n (rézkoje vozražénije), препира́тельство (ru) n (prepirátelʹstvo), пререка́ния (ru) n pl (prerekánija)

Verb

backtalk (third-person singular simple present backtalks, present participle backtalking, simple past and past participle backtalked)

1. (transitive) To respond to in an aggressively disputatious, often sarcastic or insolent manner.

   Peter was sent to detention for backtalking the teacher.

Synonyms

• (disputatively or sarcastically respond): backchat (UK), mouth off, sass

Derived terms

• backtalker

Translations

disputatively or sarcastically respond

• Dutch: tegenspreken (nl)
• Finnish: väittää vastaan
• Maori: toi, toitoi

• Quechua: kutipakuy
• Russian: пререка́ться (ru) impf (prerekátʹsja), препира́ться (ru) impf (prepirátʹsja)

Anagrams

• talk back, talkback