clap back
clap back · claps back · clapped back · clapping back
To make a witty or sarcastic retortTo make a witty or sarcastic retort.
Meaning
1 senses(informal)To make a witty or sarcastic retort.
Origin
From clap (“to shoot (somebody) with a gun”) + back.From clap (“to shoot (somebody) with a gun”) + back.
Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Forms
claps back, clapping back, clapped back, clapped back| Base form | clap back · to clap back |
|---|---|
| 3rd person singular | claps back |
| Present participle | clapping back |
| Past simple | clapped back |
| Past participle | clapped back |
irregular
Phrasal verbs
5 phrasal verbs- clap upTo imprison
- clap outTo clap to the rhythm of (a song).
- clap onTo temporarily add something to an existing part, especially to add an additional sail to take advantage of a fair wind.
- clap inTo enter or leave a place vigorously (as a clap of thunder); to proceed vigorously.
- clap backTo make a witty or sarcastic retort.
Word family
1 related wordsDerivedclapback
Lessons for this word
3 lessons- A1Present simple — Because it is a verb
- A1Past simple, regular verbs — Because of its past form
- A2Phrasal verbs: introduction — Because it is a phrasal verb
See also
neighbours in the dictionaryDictionary text adapted from Wiktionary (Wiktionary contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0) and Open English WordNet / Princeton WordNet (CC BY 4.0, WordNet License); shared under CC BY-SA 4.0. Example sentences and recordings are credited where they appear.