The idiom "answer back" means to respond rudely or disrespectfully to someone who is in a position of authority or to someone who is older than you. It is usually used to describe a situation where a person talks back to their parents, teachers, or other authority figures.
For example, if a student talks back to their teacher when they are being scolded for not completing their homework, we can say that the student is answering back. Similarly, if a child talks back to their parents when they are being disciplined, we can say that the child is answering back.
The phrase "answer back" is often used in a negative context, as it is considered impolite and disrespectful to talk back to someone who is in a position of authority. It is important to teach children to be respectful and polite when communicating with others, especially those who are older or in a position of authority.
• It's not polite to answer back to your boss, even if you disagree with them.
• The journalist was praised for her ability to answer back to difficult questions during the interview.
• The politician was criticized for being too aggressive in her answer back to her opponent during the debate.
• Despite the tough questions from the interviewer, the expert was able to calmly and confidently answer back with well-supported arguments.
• The teacher scolded the student for answering back during class.
• Don't answer back to your parents, it's disrespectful.