Always taken aback about English reprisal (7)
I believe the answer is:
revenge
'reprisal' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
'always taken aback about english' is the wordplay.
'always' becomes 'ever' (synonyms).
'taken aback' says the letters should be written in reverse.
'about' indicates putting letters inside.
'english' becomes 'eng' (abbreviation).
'ever' written backwards gives 'reve'.
'reve' enclosing 'eng' is 'REVENGE'.
(Other definitions for revenge that I've seen before include "Malicious retaliation" , "Retribution" , "Ship remembered in verse" , "Satisfaction taken for injury" , "An eye for an eye" .)