1 C1 idiomatic slang
To speak rudely or cheekily to someone in authority; to answer back with impudence. (Dialectal British slang)
"The boy beaked off at his teacher and ended up in detention for a week."
beak off
C1 slang intransitive
To speak impudently, insolently, or cheekily; to talk back. (Rare, chiefly British dialectal)
In plain English
To answer back rudely or talk in a cheeky, disrespectful way.
What does "beak off" mean?
One main meaning — here's how to use it.
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To use one's beak (slang: mouth) in an off (dismissive, insolent) way.
Actually means
To answer back rudely or talk in a cheeky, disrespectful way.
Usage tip
Very rare. Dialectal British English. 'Beak' here likely derives from slang for 'mouth' (beak = nose/face/mouth in some British dialects). Learners should use 'mouth off' or 'answer back' instead, as 'beak off' may not be understood by most speakers.
Words that pair with "beak off"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
teacher boss parent rudely insolently
How to conjugate "beak off"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
beak off
I/you/we/they
3rd person
beaks off
he/she/it
Past simple
beaked off
yesterday
Past participle
beaked off
have + pp
-ing form
beaking off
continuous
Hear "beak off" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "beak off" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
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