talk back (to one)

talk back (to one)

To answer, respond, or interrupt in a rude or impertinent manner; to sass. If you don't stop talking back like that, you'll be going to bed with no dinner! The student got detention for talking back to her teacher.See also: back, talk

talk back (to someone)

to challenge verbally a parent, an older person, or one's superior. Please don't talk back to me! I've told you before not to talk back!See also: back, talk

talk back

Also, answer back. Reply rudely or impertinently, as in She was always in trouble for talking back, or The teacher won't allow anyone to answer back to her. [Second half of 1800s] See also: back, talk

talk back

v.1. To respond to someone rudely or inappropriately: The servants were not supposed to talk back to their masters.2. To make a hostile response: The enemy's guns are talking back.3. To respond to a signal or transmission, especially through a path of electronic communication: My computer is sending information through the modem, but the network computer is not talking back.See also: back, talk