batsomethingback
phrasal verbwithbatverbuk/bæt/us/bæt/-tt-
todealeasilywith something such as aquestionorcriticism, often byreplyingwithyourownquestionorcriticism:
Weadmiredhow hebattedbackreporters'questions.
Hisaidessucceededinbattingback hisopponents'attacks.
Theirteasingwasmostlyfriendly, and shebattedit backconfidently.
Reacting and responding
- act onsomething
- backlash
- bat
- bite
- bite back (atsomeone/something)
- blowback
- overreaction
- pearl-clutching
- play it by earidiom
- press/pushsomeone'sbuttonsidiom
- press/push/hit (all) the right buttonsidiom
- reaction
- respond
- sensitive
- supersensitivity
- ticklish
- ultra-sensitive
- wake
- wake up!idiom
- whitelash