Idioms

clap back

clap back

1. verb To respond to an insult or criticism, sometimes in a vengeful manner. She calmly clapped back at critics by asserting that her weight is none of their business. I'm not proud of it, but I did clap back at the girl who stole my boyfriend by starting a vicious rumor about her. If she thinks I'm too nice to clap back about the awful things she's said, she is in for a rude awakening!
2. noun A response to an insult or criticism, sometimes in a vengeful manner. Sometimes written as one word when used in this way. I'm not great at the clap back because I get easily flustered by criticism. Her clap back was a vicious rumor targeting the girl that stole her boyfriend. Whew, that was an epic clapback. No one's gonna be picking on that kid again any time soon!
See also: back, clap
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
See also:
References in classic literature
Od-rabbit it, no mortal was ever run in such a manner; if I dodged one way, one had me; if I offered to clap back, another snapped me.
After reading the comment, the singer was quick to clap back at the user and set the records straight.
Iggy addresses this here in Clap Back, and while its bassheavy battle bars have a promising start, lyrically it fails and is disappointingly unoriginal, a theme that continues throughout the 12-track release.
Iggy addresses this here in Clap Back, and while its bass-heavy battle bars have a promising start, lyrically it fails and is disappointingly unoriginal, a theme that continues throughout the 12-track release.
Azalea hits back in Clap Back, a track from In My Defense.
Iggy addresses this in Clap Back, and, while its bass-heavy battle bars have a promising start, lyrically it is disappointingly unoriginal, a theme that continues throughout the 12-track release.
I'm never leaving the room again." Warm hyperbole lets you clap back with mittens on.
Gutoc was quick to clap back at Locsin on Twitter, pointing out that he was the one who did not know what he "traded" his principles for.
While the actor-cum-model has shared her ordeals of marital struggles, doesn't mean she won't clap back at trolls.
There are times when they clap back at bashers, something I find is quite necessary.
Miss Ibrahim has no place for such killer comments; so she got into her clap back arsenal and fired back at the troll this reply: 'Do you mean the brain surgery that you require?
Tempting it may be to clap back at bashers or have a snarky remark reserved just for them in retaliation, taking the high road, as it always has been, remains the better, albeit harder, thing to do.
"It's part and parcel of the game and the West Brom fans gave me a lot of support and I gave them a little clap back.
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