quick comeback
1
3.6
- noun
- Informal
:
respuesta rápida
- During the debate, she delivered a quick comeback that left the audience laughing.
- make a quick comeback
Examples
-
Peter J. Eliasberg, the American Civil Liberties Union attorney who was representing plaintiff Frank Buono (who, by the way, is Catholic), had a quick comeback.
Academic text (2011) -
So she could not make a quick comeback or any comeback at all.
Fiction book (1996) -
Generally, Alan never thought of quick comebacks until long after the fact; often they would come to him when he was trying to go to sleep, and he lay there with his eyes open.
Fiction book (1994) -
He always has a quick comeback when his friends make jokes about him.
-
After the insult, he quickly thought of a clever quick comeback to regain his confidence.
Synonyms
∞
1.0
A written or spoken answer to a question
251
1.0
An answer in speech or writing to a question from someone
47
3.7
A quick witty or critical reply to a remark
39
3.9
A quick reply or action in response to something
14
6.1
A quick clever reply to a comment that shows anger or wit
4
7.7
A quick clever reply that answers and often criticizes someone
2
8.3
A quick clever reply to a remark or criticism
1
6.3
A short sharp comment that sounds rude
A quick, clever reply that surprises others
A quick smart reply that surprises and stops someone from criticizing you
A quick clever reply that answers an insult or criticism
A very quick answer to a question given without thinking, often one after another
A quick answer you get without delay
A short rude reply said quickly to show anger or disrespect
Antonyms
How Quick
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning is directly compositional: 'quick' (done in a short time) simply modifies 'comeback' (a sharp, witty reply), yielding 'a rapid witty reply.' This modifier+noun pattern is a basic, cross-linguistically common construction and would be immediately understandable to a B1 learner who knows both constituents.
Etymology
Quick comeback creates the picture of an answer that comes back to someone right away, like a ball that is thrown and quickly returned. That's why it means a fast, often clever 'reply' to a comment or insult.