comeback n.1
(orig. US)1. a verbal or other rejoinder.
![]() | Kansas Times and Star 9 Nov. n.p.: He shouldn’t thus invite a sarcastic ‘come-back’ . | |
![]() | Fables in Sl. (1902) 132: Chump that he was, and all Rattled, he told her his Name, instead of giving her the scorching Come-Back that he composed next Day, when it was Too Late. | |
![]() | I’m from Missouri 68: You have a swell bunch of come-backs, haven’t you? | |
![]() | You Know Me Al (1984) 140: He says something back but it was not no hot comeback like mine. | |
![]() | Story Omnibus (1966) 68: Pat didn’t stop with the snappy comeback. | ‘Scorched Face’|
![]() | Spanish Blood (1946) 212: You make a nice comeback. | ‘Trouble Is My Business’ in|
![]() | Cry Tough! 116: The benches were monopolized by boys and girls who found the weather and the night made to order for pick-ups, banter, and flashy comebacks. | |
![]() | In For Life 204: I managed to laugh a comeback. | |
![]() | Owning Up (1974) 145: Of course he had a come-back [...] he pointed out that to him ‘All you cunts is transpontine’. | |
![]() | Black Players 157: Her ability with a quick come-back is likely to catch the fancy of a trick who is bored and seeks entertainment as well as sex. | |
![]() | In La-La Land We Trust (1999) 186: You know all the snappy comebacks. | |
![]() | (con. early 1950s) L.A. Confidential 234: ‘You’re wondering if Pierce told me to be receptive.’ He couldn’t think of a comeback. | |
![]() | (con. 1975–6) Steel Toes 93: George is still half asleep and slow with a comeback. | |
![]() | ‘If You Were Only White’ 5: [T]he art of the game [i.e. ‘the dozens’] being to top your opponent’s verbal jousts with superior comebacks. |
2. repercussions, results; retaliation; a complaint.
![]() | Satan’s Invisble World Displayed 114: ‘Come-backs’ [...] the term was also applied to the complaint lodged by a victim [of a con-man]. | |
![]() | Sorrows of a Show Girl Ch. xix: Where’s my comeback? I ask you as a lady, where do I get off? | |
![]() | Taking the Count 139: I don’t mind tellin’ you a few things [...] but I don’t want no comeback. | ‘On Account of a Lady’ in|
![]() | Timber Wolves 250: I don’t quite understand why Garraway hasn’t tried any comeback at us. | |
![]() | (con. 1905–25) Professional Thief (1956) 199: It [i.e. burglary] is too dangerous, the come-back is too sure. | |
![]() | USA Confidential 91: Curley built up a strong organization to make a come-back. | |
![]() | Get Your Ass in the Water (1974) 96–7: Back in Pearl Harbour the Japs had their day, / but General Douglas MacArthur made a comeback play. | |
![]() | You Flash Bastard 63: there could always be the convenient delay in the passing of messages to Division requesting local CID help, or the mislaying of such a message, in the event of comebacks. | |
![]() | Big Huey 125: When nothing happened after several days we [...] realised that there would be no comeback. | |
![]() | Powder 438: If there’s any comeback on me or my band tonight, you’re fucking dead. | |
![]() | Hooky Gear 203: Plus a money-back guarantee. He give a nervous chuckle, knowin the last thing he want is comeback. |
3. a monetary payment.
![]() | Torchy 11: You’d thought they’d come a runnin’ at a chance like that, wouldn’t you? [...] But say, only about one in ten ever hands us a comeback. | |
![]() | ‘O. Henry's Only Autobiographia’ in O. Henry Papers (rev. edn) 8: ‘He had a heart like that [...] If he had $10 he'd give it to you [...] He was always helping some of the boys out, and never a come-back’. |