Phrasal verb
hit back
Definition
phrasal verb. to attack or criticize someone who has attacked or criticized you first.
phrasal verb. to retaliate against an opponent's physical strike or verbal criticism; often used in political or competitive contexts.
Examples
“The boxer hit back with a strong right hand.”
“After the senator's speech, the president hit back at his critics during a press conference.”
“The corporation hit back against the allegations of fraud by releasing a comprehensive audit that contradicted the whistleblower's claims.”
Examples
simple
“The boxer hit back with a strong right hand.”
contextual
“After the senator's speech, the president hit back at his critics during a press conference.”
complex
“The corporation hit back against the allegations of fraud by releasing a comprehensive audit that contradicted the whistleblower's claims.”
Usage
often followed by 'at' or 'against' when specifying the target of the retaliation.
Teaching tip
contrast with 'retaliate' (formal) and 'get back at' (more focused on revenge); 'hit back' is common in news headlines for its punchy, active feel.
Pitfall
He hit back them.
He hit back at them.
this phrasal verb requires the preposition 'at' or 'against' before the person or thing being attacked.
Phrasal verb
Particles
back
Separability
inseparable
Pattern
hit + back (+ at/against + object)
Synonyms
Antonyms
Grammar
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/hit-back