bite back

English

Verb

bite back (third-person singular simple present bites back, present participle biting back, simple past bit back, past participle bitten back)

1. (intransitive) To retaliate; to give a sharp retort.
2. (transitive) To repress (an emotion or a response).

   He bit back his anger and managed a courteous reply.

   • 1971, The Who, “Behind Blue Eyes”, in Who's Next:

     No one bites back as hard on their anger / None of my pain and woe / Can show through

Anagrams

• back-bite, backbite