From Angela Eagle’s riposte to the leave campaign to Chris Rock on the Oscars, these verbal gymnasts won battles with words – even if they sometimes lost the war

‘Get that lie off your bus’: the year’s best slapdowns

“I think Donald just criticised me for preparing for this debate. And, yes, I did. And you know what else I prepared for? I prepared to be president. And I think that’s a good thing.”

Hillary Clinton outwits Donald Trump, but he had the last laugh.

“Stephen Crabb has come under fire for links to a group that claims it can cure homosexuality, and, having had a quick look at him, he’s definitely cured me: his beaming face is like a grim party game where blindfolded children have to try to place the eyes on to an identikit photograph of a murderer.”

Frankie Boyle weighs up the Tory leadership contenders ...

“Surely even Hunt’s wife would rather spend a sleepless 72 hours gazing into a cracked-open ribcage than talk to him.”

... and Jeremy Hunt for good measure.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest She came prepared … Hillary Clinton ran rings round Donald Trump. Photograph: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

“Get that lie off your bus.”

Angela Eagle on Vote Leave’s “We send the EU £350million a week, let’s fund our NHS instead” slogan.

“I want my fucking European Union back, you piece of shit!”

Charlotte Church, in response to Farage’s “I want my life back” resignation statement.

“I’m here at the Academy Awards – otherwise known as the White People’s Choice Awards. If they nominated hosts, I would never have gotten this job.”

Oscars host Chris Rock addresses the #Oscarssowhite controversy.

“Venus and Serena have won four each.”

Andy Murray corrects John Inverdale after the BBC Olympics host asked him how it felt to be “the first person ever to win two Olympic tennis gold medals”.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Brandon Victor Dixon addresses the vice-president-elect from stage. Photograph: AP

“We are the diverse Americans who are alarmed and anxious that your new administration will not protect us, our planet, our children, our parents, or defend us and uphold our inalienable rights … we hope that this show has inspired you to uphold our American values and work on behalf of all of us.”

Hamilton actor Brandon Victor Dixon politely addresses vice-president-elect Mike Pence from the stage in New York.

“The cast and producers of Hamilton, which I hear is highly overrated, should immediately apologise to Mike Pence for their terrible behaviour.”

@realDonaldTrump politely addresses them back.

“There is no vacancy.”

Downing Street responds to Donald Trump’s tweeted suggestion that Nigel Farage be the UK’s new ambassador to the US.

“He’s the life and soul of the party, but he’s not the man you want driving you home at the end of the evening.”

Amber Rudd on Boris Johnson at the EU referendum debate.

“Welcome to Negro Night here in Washington — or as Fox News will report, Two Thugs Disrupt Elegant Dinner in DC.”

Larry Wilmore pre-empts the criticism that still came his way anyway after his turn at the White House correspondents’ dinner.

“Shouldn’t #TedCruz have been forced to carry his unviable campaign to term?”

Samantha Bee ponders Ted Cruz terminating his presidential campaign.

“I dunno, man, I already went and got a PhD in astrophysics. Seems like more than that would be overkill at this point.”

Scientist Katie Mack responds on Twitter to a climate change denier’s request that she “should learn some actual SCIENCE then, and stop listening to the criminals pushing the #GlobalWarming SCAM!”

“Being five centuries regressed in your reasoning doesn’t mean we all can’t still like your music.”

Astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson gives up after trying to correct rapper BoB’s assertion that the world is flat (“No matter how high in elevation you are … the horizon is always eye level … sorry cadets … I didn’t wanna believe it either.”)

“If you bury your face in the pecan pie, it absorbs your screams.”

Stephen Colbert offers Mitt Romney advice after his infamous dinner meeting with president-elect Donald Trump.