Growl and answer back right and left (5)
I believe the answer is:
snarl
'growl' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'answer back right and left' is the wordplay.
'answer' becomes 'ans' (abbreviation for answer).
'back' is a reversal indicator.
'right' becomes 'r' (common abbreviation).
'and' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'left' becomes 'l' (common abbreviation).
'ans' in reverse letter order is 'sna'.
'sna'+'r'+'l'='SNARL'
'and' is the link.
(Other definitions for snarl that I've seen before include "Say something aggressively" , "Entangle wool - show displeasure" , "Bare teeth and growl" , "A vicious angry growl" , "Growl viciously" .)