Employees share their stories of one time they came up with a clever comeback to bosses or coworkers and the reaction that caused: 'Well. I took a risk. If I wasn’t worth both, that said something to me'

Author image for María Cetra
María Cetra • Writer
Jul 14, 2026 7:15 PM EDT

Clever comeback or huge mistake?

I hate when I'm talking to somebody, and they say something really mean, and I can't respond with a clever comeback in time. That moment usually stays with me for days, until one moment –probably when I'm about to fall asleep or when I'm showering– I think of the perfect answer. The perfect comeback to the unsolicited backhanded thing that somebody said to me. To which I simply stared in disbelief. You may think that this kind of situation ends in high school. Unfortunately, they don't. If you ever worked on-site in a corporate office, you know that it's full of this kind of comment. They just aren't as direct. 


It can be a silly, sarcastic comment that seems to be just a little joke, but it isn't. Is never well-intended, and the fact that you respond, just staring in disbelief, makes you look bad. When you work in this type of environment, you need to get a grip. Make your brain work faster. Always be prepared for the unwarranted comment with a more backhanded and clever one. You may think that avoiding that type of situation is better, and maybe it is. But when you've been in this situation, you think about that. You think about getting out of the situation with a good enough response so that this doesn't happen again ever. 
 

This Reddit thread gave a sense of closure, like if I was the one clever enough to come back with this type of response. And even though some of them are very risky, as they were to bosses and higher-ups. Most of them finished nicely for the underdog. It's quite fun seeing this from another perspective that provides you the possibility to actually get a good resolution from standing up for yourself, without creating a huge scene about it. So now, these are my favorite stories on the thread. That pretty much sums up what it is like to actually have a response to that unconstructive criticism that you received. 
 

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  • 01
    My boss told me I'd done such a great job right before Christmas that I was going to get a 2000. bonus (big deal at that time), and I had the choice of choosing a 1.00 an hour raise or going up 5% on my commission. I said, why not both? You just gave me a 20 minute speech about how I have enhanced the company profit and brought in more money in the last year than the last 3 before I started.. I was told I couldn't get both... I wasn't clever with words. I said I'd think on it- my boss was
    via Aarunascut
  • 02
    A reunion of coworkers with people sitting around a table with their computers.
    via Campaign Creators

    A reunion of coworkers with people sitting around a table with their computers. 

  • 03
    big on sentimental stuff as was | which was why I had this one figurine on my desk. I told her one time months before, If you ever see me pack this thing up, you know I'm gone for good- Well. I took a risk. If I wasn't worth both, that said something to me, so for the next week and a half I randomly started removing things from my desk area (very whimsical) and finally that item. I showed up the next day and got called into HR
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  • 04
    and was told I had been approved for a pay increase and a 5% bonus I needed to sign off on. I was then asked if I'd bring my "figurine" back. I did. and insanely enough, I had a relative want to see what it was worth one day and after I took it home a massive flood happened and the whole building went under. I lost all of my other sh there. That little figurine has stayed with me for like 20ish years now. (for reference May 2010 Nashville Flood) My little "human bean" survived b/c I
    via Aarunascut
  • 05
    brought it home a few days before to have it's value checked out :/
    via Aarunascut
  • 06
    Maple Badger288 I was a young man working a home depot cash register. My supervisor was an unlikable fat b-word who seemed to delight in belittling me for some reason where I had tried to get along with for the sake of being able to work under her. One day, out of the blue, I hear it was her last shift. I asked if that was true and she said "You're probably happy to hear
    via Aarunascut
  • 07
    that." I said to her, "Come talk to me after you've clocked out and no longer my supervisor. I will take my 15 early and we can have a discussion." Never saw her for that talk. Too bad. I had a tirade lined up.
    via Aarunascut
  • 08
    Visual representation of high buildings in the city seen from below.
    via Sean Pollock

    Visual representation of high buildings in the city seen from below. 

  • 09
    saturngolf96 Big Boss kept threatening to fire me while blowing off steam. One day I got tired of it and went home early (after about 3 hours of work). Big Boss couldn't find me so he asked my boss where I was. Boss pointed out I left after he fired me again, Big Boss was like I didn't really fire him . Boss pointed out I would probably be back in the morning, but the act was getting pretty thin!
    via Aarunascut
  • 10
    jackman924 I had a boss who always tried to talk down to me and would be very ride about it. One day she was belittling me in a hallway in front of coworkers and wagging her finger close to my face. I'd finally had enough and said "Who do you think you're talking to, your husband?" That stopped her cold, so I added "Respect gets respect
    via Aarunascut
  • 11
    and I'm done being disrespected. If you EVER wag your finger in my face again, I'll bite the f off at the second knuckle and spit it in your face." I never had another problem with her, although I'm surprised that I wasn't terminated!
    via Aarunascut
  • 12
    Ballamookieofficial I was working on trying to resurrect a discontinued Fip by using parts from one I'd replaced earlier in the week. The account manager for that client kept calling me asking for an update. Meaning I'd have to stop what I was doing to answer the phone and say the exact same
    via Aarunascut
  • 13
    thing I'd said on the previous 4 phone calls that day. After the 5th call I kind of snapped at him and said. "Hey you know a lot about fixing chubb fire panels don't you?" He said "No but I know it doesn't normally take this long" I replied "Well I do and at no point
    via Aarunascut
  • 14
    does it involve a needy account manager calling me half a dozen times. If you're looking for something to do quote up a replacement" I think he got the point.
    via Aarunascut
  • 15
    ParticularSet5793 One of my bosses who was always very disparaging about the drivers had us all in the canteen and was laying down the law about changes he was making and said "this is going to happen and if you dont like it, i'll see you in the car park. Me, being an angry man that was only a few weeks back from a tour
    via Aarunascut
  • 16
    in Iraq got up and went to walk out. He says, "where the f going?" are you I looked at him and said " car park" A 10 second silence and then he said "right everyone get back to work"
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  • 17
    AdMost3649 I was in a meeting with five other coworkers and our condescending know it all manager. I swear his mantra was "There is no I in the word team". Wouldn't you know I was a female experiencing red rage when he was yammering on about something and said his favourite phrase. I casually responded with "No, but there are two I's in the
    via Aarunascut
  • 18
    word idiot". There was one red face and lots of laughter.
    via Aarunascut

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