answer back

Verb

answer back (third-person singular simple present answers back, present participle answering back, simple past and past participle answered back)

1. (ambitransitive) To reply impertinently to (someone); to talk back.
   • I'll thank you not to answer back like that! Where are your manners?
   • She answered him back rudely.
2. To reply to a question from (someone) at a later time.
   • Please answer me back before the end of the week.
3. To match an opponent’s recent scoring effort.
4. To issue echo characters, protocol responses, reflexive connection requests, etc.