answer back

answer (one) back

To reply to one; to answer one's question or query. I called them last week, but they haven't answered me back yet. If he doesn't answer us back by today, we'll go ahead with the foreclosure. Oh yeah, I meant to tell you—Tara answered me back earlier, and she is coming tonight.

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answer back

1. To respond angrily or rudely at an inappropriate or unwelcome time. Don't answer back to me, young lady. Your students don't respect you, that's why they always answer back when you try to discipline them. Did you really just answer back? All right, then, you're grounded for two weeks!

2. To respond to a question or request. I called them last week, but they haven't answered back yet. If you don't answer back today, I'll assume you don't want to go to the game with me. Oh yeah, I meant to tell you—Tara answered back earlier, and she is coming tonight.

See also: answer, back

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

answer back (to someone)

 and answer someone back

to talk back (to someone); to argue (with someone). (Fixed phrase.) I wish you wouldn't answer back to me that way. Please don't answer me back like that! Don't answer backer I'll ground you for a week!

See also: answer, back

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

answer back

v.

1. To respond to a question or request; reply: After I requested a catalog from the clothing company many times, they finally answered back, saying they didn't have any catalogs left. We leave message after message with them, but they never answer us back.

2. To respond rudely or inappropriately: Don't answer back to your mother like that!

See also: answer, back

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs. Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.