sharp riposte
- noun
- /ʃɑrp rɪˈpoʊst/
:
réplica aguda
- Her sharp riposte silenced the critic instantly.
Examples
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The comedian's sharp riposte drew laughter from the crowd.
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Her sharp riposte left everyone in the room speechless.
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He always has a sharp riposte ready during debates.
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Did you hear his sharp riposte to the accusation?
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Her sharp riposte caught him off guard during the heated debate.
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He delivered a sharp riposte that silenced his critics.
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During the discussion, she made a sharp riposte that cleverly addressed the insult.
Synonyms
47
3.7
A quick witty or critical reply to a remark
14
6.1
A quick clever reply to a comment that shows anger or wit
9
8.3
Short, clever answers that make people laugh or the skill of giving them in conversation
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
3.6
A fast, clever reply to a remark or insult
A quick, clever reply that surprises others
A quick smart reply that surprises and stops someone from criticizing you
A sharp reply that answers an accusation or argument
A very quick answer to a question given without thinking, often one after another
Antonyms
How Witty
Surface Forms
Morphology
Both constituents contribute directly to the overall meaning: 'riposte' is a quick, clever answer and 'sharp' adds a cutting/biting quality, so a learner who knows both words can infer a 'quick and witty (biting) reply'. This is a straightforward adjective + noun composition common across languages and follows normal English modifier patterns, so it should be immediately comprehensible to a B1 learner.
Etymology
Sharp riposte comes from sword fighting. In a sword fight a riposte is the quick counter-hit you make right after you block an attack, and sharp means fast and cutting, so the image shows why the phrase now means a quick, clever 'reply' to an insult or criticism.