back-chat

present singular third person back-chats · participle present back-chatting · participle past back-chatted · past back-chatted

1. alternativeAlternative form of backchat.

   Very few dared to back-chat Smith anyway.

   2008, Ben Collins, The Red Fox: The Biography of Norm Smith, page 318

   2 more examples

   Most church women I know still go visiting, may "back-chat" their male partner, and may not be "quiet" at all.

   1998, Melissa A. Johnson, Nature and progress in rural Creole Belize, page 149

   Children may choose the fight or flight response. They may back-chat or argue or they may withdraw.

   2009, Bill Rogers, How to Manage Children's Challenging Behaviour, page 49

plural back-chats

1. alternativecountableuncountableAlternative form of backchat.

   No, you love minimum back-chat and three square meals a day.

   2015, Matthew Trevannion, “Bruised”, in Matthew Trevannion, Rachel Trezise, Tim Price, editors, Contemporary Welsh Plays, page 419

   2 more examples

   ' […] Be firm with him; tell him you have already chosen a bride. He won't dare give you back-chat.' Mother talked to Ramu in Tamil.

   2007, Vivek Iyer, Samlee's Daughter

   He was always very good to me but I made sure I never stepped out of line. My fears in this direction were confirmed when, later in the season, Dave Shawcross, a highly talented wing-half, had the nerve to give Jim a bit of back-chat.

   2012, Fred Eyre, Kicked into Touch: Plus Extra Time