backchat

English

Alternative forms

• back chat, back-chat

Etymology

Etymology tree

Proto-Indo-European *bʰeg-der.?

Proto-Germanic *baką

Proto-West Germanic *bak

Old English bæc

Middle English bak

English back

Middle English cheteren, chiteren (Imitative)der.

Middle English chateren

English chatterclip.

English chat

English backchat

From back + chat.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈbæk.t͡ʃæt/

• Audio (Southern England):

  (file)

Noun

backchat (countable and uncountable, plural backchats)

1. (UK) Cheeky or impertinent responses, especially to criticism.
   • 2004, Alan Hollinghurst, chapter 6, in The Line of Beauty […], London: Picador, →ISBN:

     Old Pete would have had some smart gay backchat to deal with an awkward moment like this.

Synonyms

• backtalk (US)

Translations

backtalk — see backtalk

Verb

backchat (third-person singular simple present backchats, present participle backchatting, simple past and past participle backchatted)

1. To respond in a disputative, often sarcastic manner.

   Peter was sent to detention for backchatting the teacher.

Synonyms

• (disputatively or sarcastically respond): answer back, mouth off, sass

Translations

backtalk — see backtalk