When they scolded him, he would answer back.

他们说他，他就顶。

《新英汉大辞典》

He knew that instead of waking her he should lull her back to sleep, so he tried to come up with an answer that would plant the image of a new dream in her mind.

他知道不该弄醒她，应该哄她继续睡觉。他试图作出一种回答，往她脑子里种下一种新的梦境。

youdao

He said if they did not get a proper answer, they would go back and ask again until they got one.

BBC: NEWS | UK | UK Politics | Key points: Cash-for-honours hearing

He said they were concerned about how they would answer media enquiries on the back of the leak to Sky, in the absence of putting out a full statement.

BBC: Marks and Spencer store, Westfield