tease
B2Neutral to Informal. Common in everyday speech and certain contexts (e.g., hairdressing), but can be considered slightly childish or antagonistic depending on context.
Definition
Meaning
To make fun of or playfully provoke someone in a lighthearted way, often to get a reaction.
To annoy or pester persistently; to separate fibers (e.g., of wool, hair) by pulling; to comb hair back from the face; to entice or tempt someone with the promise of something unattainable; to present something (like a film or product) in a way that generates interest without revealing full details.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The meaning ranges from affectionate, playful banter to mean-spirited torment. The intent (playful vs. cruel) is often determined by context, tone, and relationship between participants. In hairdressing, it's a specific technical term (backcombing).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal difference in core meaning. Both use 'tease' for playful provocation and hairdressing. The noun 'tease' for a person who teases is common in both.
Connotations
Similar in both varieties. The line between playful and hurtful teasing is culturally understood similarly.
Frequency
Equally common in both dialects.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Subject] teases [Object].[Subject] teases [Object] about [Topic].[Subject] teases [Object] for [Reason].[Subject] teases [Information/Truth] out of [Object].Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Don't tease the bear. (Don't provoke a dangerous situation)”
- “A tease (n.) – someone who habitually teases or tempts without intention to follow through.”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare in formal business writing. May appear in marketing ('a teaser campaign') or informally in workplace banter.
Academic
Used metaphorically in research contexts: 'to tease out the underlying causes' or 'to tease apart complex variables'.
Everyday
Very common for describing playful or annoying interactions between friends, siblings, or colleagues.
Technical
Specific meaning in hairdressing/coiffure: the act of backcombing to add volume.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- My brothers used to tease me mercilessly about my accent.
- She teased her hair for extra volume before the night out.
- The interviewer managed to tease out some surprising details.
American English
- Don't tease your sister about her new haircut.
- The stylist teased the crown for a bigger look.
- Researchers are trying to tease apart genetic and environmental factors.
adverb
British English
- He smiled teasingly, knowing he had won the argument.
American English
- She winked teasingly before revealing the surprise.
adjective
British English
- He gave her a teasing grin.
- The article offered only teasing glimpses of the new product.
American English
- She couldn't tell if his compliment was sincere or just teasing.
- The studio released a teasing trailer for the upcoming film.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- My friend teases me because I'm afraid of spiders.
- Stop teasing the dog!
- They always tease him about his love for old musicals.
- It took hours to tease the knots out of the wool.
- The journalist skillfully teased the confession out of the reluctant witness.
- I couldn't tell if he was being sincere or just teasing me.
- The data is complex, requiring sophisticated models to tease apart the confounding variables.
- Her novel is a masterpiece, subtly teasing out the protagonist's latent motivations.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'TEASE' as 'Tempt Easily And Stimulate Emotion' – which captures the act of provoking a reaction.
Conceptual Metaphor
KNOWLEDGE/TRUTH IS A TANGLE; teasing is the act of untangling (to tease out information). PROVOCATION IS A PHYSICAL PULLING (to tease someone along).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid directly translating as 'дразнить' in all contexts, as the Russian word can imply more childish or animal-related taunting. For 'to tease out information', a phrase like 'выведать' or 'осторожно выяснить' is better.
- The hairdressing term 'tease' does not translate to 'расчесывать' (to comb), but to 'начёсывать' (to backcomb).
Common Mistakes
- Using 'tease' when 'mock' or 'make fun of' is more accurate for cruel intent. Confusing 'tease' (v.) with 'teasing' (adj.) as in 'teasing smile'. Incorrect pattern: 'He teased on me' (correct: 'He teased me').
Practice
Quiz
In which context does 'tease' have a meaning unrelated to provocation?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Teasing can be affectionate and playful ('friendly teasing'), especially among close friends or family. The tone, context, and relationship determine whether it's hurtful or not.
'Tease' is broader and can be lighthearted. 'Mock' almost always implies ridicule, scorn, or imitation intended to belittle someone. Mocking is generally more cruel and disrespectful.
A 'teaser' is something designed to arouse interest or curiosity, like a short promotional trailer for a film (a 'teaser trailer') or a preliminary, intriguing question.
Yes, in contexts like 'teasing out information' (patiently extracting it) or 'teasing hair' (a styling technique). The interpersonal use can be positive if it's clearly consensual, playful banter.