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.
  2. (transitive) To repress (an emotion or a response).
    He bit back his anger and managed a courteous reply.
    • 1971, The Who (lyrics and music), “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

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