3 must have comebacks to use with mean girls or bullies
3 Flip-the-Script Comebacks Every Child Can Use to Stay Confident with Bullies
When kids face bullies, the instinct is often to either snap back or go silent. But there’s another way, one that keeps their cool intact and puts the social pressure back where it belongs: on the bully. These flip-the-script comebacks make the other person explain themselves, without your child sounding defensive or mean. They work because they interrupt the bullying pattern and make the comment suddenly feel awkward for the one who said it.
Why Flip-the-Script Works
Bullies thrive on getting a reaction, anger, embarrassment, or retreat. When your child responds with calm curiosity, they take away that payoff. Instead of fueling the exchange, they make the other person uncomfortable in a way that often stops the behavior in its tracks.
Flip-the-Script Comebacks to Stay Confident
“How would you reply if someone said that to you?”
Makes the bully think about their own behavior without your child lecturing them.
“Did you mean that as a compliment or were you trying to embarrass me?”
Calls out the intent behind the comment while staying calm and curious.
“What were you hoping I’d say back?”
Flips the pressure — now the bully has to explain themselves in front of others.
Parent Tip:
Practice these lines at home with a light, curious tone, not sarcastic or aggressive. The goal is for your child to sound like they’re genuinely wondering, which makes the bully squirm and takes away their power. Role-play a few scenarios where the bully says something mean, and have your child deliver one of these comebacks while keeping steady eye contact. Praise their delivery, not just their words, confidence comes from both.
Your final takeaway:
You can’t control what a bully or mean girl or mean boy says but you can control how prepared your child is to respond. These three comebacks give them quick, powerful tools to protect their confidence and put the social pressure back where it belongs.
For more tips on how to handle bullies or mean girls, type in mean girls in the searchable library. And if you have a specific question, head to the forum and ask away, I reply to every question with tailored suggestions and fellow members can chime in too to offer support and ideas.
You can also head to the main page and under downloads, get your Mean Girl Guide for parents and for kids & teens for free with your membership, it’s already in your library.
Xo,
Dr. C