back-sassv.
/ˈbaksas/, U.S. /ˈbækˌsæs/ U.S. colloquial.
transitive. To reply to or address (a person, esp. someone in authority) in an insolent or cheeky manner. Cf. to sass back at sass v. 2.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > pride > impudence > treat impudently [verb (transitive)] > speak impudently to
sauce1822
to give (a person) sauce1823
sass1836
cheek1840
chin1871
lip1898
back-sass1917
smart-mouth1970
1917 Amer. Mag. May 13/1 Old Johnny Lolo, the Shakespearean talking clown, sat on the ring back-sassing the ringmaster.
2008 C. R. Smith Chameleon xxvii. 153 ‘So where are your little hoodlum friends?’ ‘They in the living room. But they ain't hoodlums, Pop.’ ‘Don't you back-sass me, boy!’
This is a new entry (OED Third Edition, September 2020; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
<
v.1917