Talk back meaning in English

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Definition

to talk back (to someone): to reply rudely (to someone) verb
Don't talk back to your mother! I've told you before not to be so rude when you answer her.

Examples

  • "It takes a lot of guts to talk back to a man like me."
Exercise 1
Mr. Laughsalot says, "It takes a lot of guts to talk back to a man like me".

Another way to phrase this sentence is: It takes a lot of to a man like me.
Mr. Laughsalot says, "It takes a lot of guts to talk back to a man like me".

Another way to phrase this sentence is: It takes a lot of courage 1 to stand up to 2 a man like me.
1 courage: This is correct. In English "guts" refers literally to the "intestines" of a person of an animal. The term is often used idiomatically to refer to "courage" or "bravery". Lawrence is commending Icarus for his courage in talking to him without fear.
1 people: Lawrence's expression "it takes guts to talk back to a man like me" does not refer to the number of people speaking to him.
1 time: Lawrence's expression "it takes guts to talk back to a man like me" does not refer to the amount of time necessary to speak to him.
1 energy: Lawrence's expression "it takes guts to talk back to a man like me" does not refer to the amount of energy necessary to speak to him.
2 stand up to: This is the correct choice. The expression "to stand up to somebody" means to "challenge their authority" or "to defend oneself against them". This idiom expresses Icarus' actions in challenging Lawrence's authority when he "talks back" to him. The expression "to talk back to someone" means to respond to someone of greater authority, such as a parent or teacher.
2 turn on: "To turn someone on" is very different than "talking back to someone". "To turn someone on" usually refers to one person "exciting" another, or in another context "to betray someone".
2 defeat: "To talk back to someone" doesn't indicate that one person has "defeated" or "beaten " another.
2 speak to: The expression "to talk back to someone" means more than simply "speaking" to them. The expression means to speak to someone in a manner which challenges their authority.
Exercise 2
It takes a lot of guts to talk back to a man like me.

Another way to phrase this sentence is: It takes a lot of to a man like me.
It takes a lot of guts to talk back to a man like me.

Another way to phrase this sentence is: It takes a lot of courage 1 to stand up to 2 a man like me.
1 courage: This is correct. In English "guts" refers literally to the "intestines" of a person of an animal. The term is often used idiomatically to refer to "courage" or "bravery". Lawrence is commending Icarus for his courage in talking to him without fear.
1 people: Lawrence's expression "it takes guts to talk back to a man like me" does not refer to the number of people speaking to him.
1 time: Lawrence's expression "it takes guts to talk back to a man like me" does not refer to the amount of time necessary to speak to him.
1 energy: Lawrence's expression "it takes guts to talk back to a man like me" does not refer to the amount of energy necessary to speak to him.
2 stand up to: This is the correct choice. The expression "to stand up to somebody" means to "challenge their authority" or "to defend oneself against them". This idiom expresses Icarus' actions in challenging Lawrence's authority when he "talks back" to him. The expression "to talk back to someone" means to respond to someone of greater authority, such as a parent or teacher.
2 turn on: "To turn someone on" is very different than "talking back to someone". "To turn someone on" usually refers to one person "exciting" another, or in another context "to betray someone".
2 defeat: "To talk back to someone" doesn't indicate that one person has "defeated" or "beaten " another.
2 speak to: The expression "to talk back to someone" means more than simply "speaking" to them. The expression means to speak to someone in a manner which challenges their authority.

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