answer back
phrasal verb·1 sense·particle back
Meanings
Reply in a defiant manner
Why “back”? The action returns to the person who did it first.
“He always answers back to his boss.”
“The child answered back to the teacher.”
Test yourself
“He always answers back to his boss.” What does it mean?
Nearby in the meaning map
Sink In connects verbs by particle pattern, contrast pairs, and shared base verbs.
call back
Same back pattern: returning action
Return a phone call; Try the phone call again; Recall a product because of a fault
fight back
Same back pattern: returning action
Defend yourself against an attack; Try to suppress a feeling like tears or anger
get back
Same back pattern: returning action
Return to a place; Take revenge on someone; Arrive home or return; Reply to someone, often with information they asked for; Take revenge on someone
give back
Same back pattern: returning action
Return something to its owner; Make a contribution in return to a community or cause
hit back
Same back pattern: returning action
Retaliate
kick back
Same back pattern: returning action
Strike back in retaliation
nod back
Same back pattern: returning action
Nod in response to a nod from someone else
pay back
Same back pattern: returning action
Return money that was borrowed; Take revenge on someone for something they did
Practice “answer back” in Sink In
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