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).
    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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