Comebacks - English meaning

noun

A thing that is said, written, or done as a reaction to a question, statement, or situation.

Usage examples:

He knocked and entered without waiting for an answer

verb

Say or write something as a reaction to someone or something.

Usage examples:

‘of course i can,’ she answered

verb

A statement made to reply to a question or criticism

noun

A clever or funny answer to someone who has criticized or insulted you

Usage examples:

She delivered the ultimate clapback on instagram.

noun

A long flat-topped fitment across which business is conducted in a shop or bank or refreshments are served in a cafeteria.

Usage examples:

Having eaten these we were hard pressed to ignore the shop counter as we departed.

verb

Speak or act in opposition to.

Usage examples:

The second argument is more difficult to counter

adverb

In the opposite direction or in opposition to.

Usage examples:

His writing ran counter to the dominant trends of the decade

noun

An attempt to win or recover after a time when you have lost or been losing

Usage examples:

We lost the election, but the fightback starts here., after only ten minutes they were three goals …

verb

(of troops) come together again in order to continue fighting after a defeat or dispersion.

Usage examples:

De montfort's troops rallied and drove back the king's infantry

noun

A mass meeting of people making a political protest or showing support for a cause.

Usage examples:

A rally attended by around 100,000 people

verb

Subject (someone) to good-humoured ridicule; tease.

Usage examples:

He rallied her on the length of her pigtail

verb

Bounce back through the air after hitting something hard.

Usage examples:

His shot hammered into the post and rebounded across the goal

noun

(in sporting contexts) a ball or shot that bounces back after striking a hard surface.

Usage examples:

He blasted the rebound into the net

verb

Past and past participle of rebind.

noun

A return to a normal state of health, mind, or strength.

Usage examples:

Signs of recovery in the housing market

noun

The act or process of getting better; improvement

Usage examples:

[ u ] the economy is showing signs of recovery., [ u ] the story deals with the recovery of (= gett…

noun

A process in which a situation improves after a difficult period, or in which prices increase after falling in value

Usage examples:

Improvement in trade has been driven by the lower cost of borrowing and the recovery of the manufac…

noun

A reply, especially a sharp or witty one.

Usage examples:

She would have made some cutting rejoinder but none came to mind

noun

A quick answer, often given in a way that is competitive or amusing

Usage examples:

The reviewer’s mistakes were so flagrant that gove drafted a strong rejoinder.

verb

Say something in response to something someone has said.

Usage examples:

He was gone before we could reply to his last remark

noun

A verbal or written answer.

Usage examples:

I received a reply from the managing director

verb

To answer a question

Usage examples:

[ i ] she asked him how old he was but he didn’t reply., [ + that clause ] he replied that he wasn’…

noun

A verbal or written answer.

Usage examples:

There was laughter at his response to the question

noun

Something said or done as a reaction to something that has been said or done; an answer or reaction

Usage examples:

[ c ] she’s applied for admission and is still waiting for a response from the school., the law was…

noun

An answer to a question, letter, email, etc.

Usage examples:

Response to sth consumers get no response to telephone inquiries for help., i am writing in respons…

noun

An increase or revival after a period of little activity, popularity, or occurrence.

Usage examples:

A resurgence of interest in religion

noun

An increase of activity or interest in a particular subject or idea which had been forgotten for some time

Usage examples:

[ c usually sing ] there’s been a resurgence of criticism of the president.

noun

A process in which something starts to grow, develop, or become successful again

Usage examples:

There has been a resurgence of interest in telecom stocks., a resurgence in sth if the hoped-for sp…

noun

The action of returning a military attack; counter-attack.

Usage examples:

The bombings are believed to be in retaliation for the trial of 15 suspects

noun

The act of hurting someone or doing something harmful to someone because they have done or said something harmful to you

Usage examples:

The bomb attack was in retaliation for the recent arrest of two well-known terrorists., she suffere…

verb

Say something in answer to a remark, typically in a sharp, angry, or witty manner.

Usage examples:

‘no need to be rude,’ retorted isabel

noun

A sharp, angry, or witty reply.

Usage examples:

She opened her mouth to make a suitably cutting retort

verb

Heat in a retort in order to separate or purify.

Usage examples:

The raw shale is retorted at four crude oil works

verb

Come or go back to a place or person.

Usage examples:

He returned to america in the late autumn

noun

An act of coming or going back to a place or activity.

Usage examples:

He celebrated his safe return from the war

verb

To come or go back to a previous place, subject, activity, or condition

Usage examples:

He returned to new york last week., he worked at other jobs but kept returning to mining., she was …

noun

An improvement in the condition, strength, or fortunes of someone or something.

Usage examples:

A revival in the fortunes of the party

noun

A revival is also a performance of a play which has not been seen for a long time

Usage examples:

[ c ] a revival of pinter’s 1960 play

noun

A process in which something starts to grow, develop, or become successful again

Usage examples:

Senior economists believe that market liberalism is leading to a revival of the economy., we remain…

noun

A quick, clever reply to an insult or criticism.

Usage examples:

The dialogue, too, feels like piecework, as if the bons mots and ripostes have been assembled from …

verb

Make a quick, clever reply to an insult or criticism.

Usage examples:

‘you've got a strange sense of honour,’ grant riposted

noun

A quick and clever remark, often made in answer to a criticism

Usage examples:

She made a sharp/witty/neat riposte., [ + that ] she simply riposted that she did not create the bo…

noun

A sudden charge out of a besieged place against the enemy; a sortie.

Usage examples:

The garrison there made a sally against us

verb

Make a military sortie.

Usage examples:

They sallied out to harass the enemy

noun

The part of a bell rope that has coloured wool woven into it to provide a grip for the bell-ringer's hands.

Usage examples:

There are two parts to the bell rope – the tail and the soft sally, which are pulled alternately to…

noun

An improvement or upward trend, especially in economic conditions or someone's fortunes.

Usage examples:

An upturn in the economy

verb

Turn (something) upwards or upside down.

Usage examples:

Nearly four feet of water cascaded over the park, upturning paving stones and play equipment

noun

An increase in the amount or success of something, such as a country's economic activity

Usage examples:

Economic/market upturn there are fears that higher borrowing rates will threaten the economic uptur…