teasing
B1Informal to Neutral
Definition
Meaning
Making playful, gentle, or provocative remarks aimed at amusing oneself or others, often by provoking a reaction.
Can range from affectionate, friendly banter to persistent, annoying, or even malicious provocation intended to irritate or mock someone.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The interpretation heavily depends on context, tone, and relationship between participants. It exists on a spectrum from playful to cruel.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in core meaning. 'Wind up' is a more common British synonym for persistent, annoying teasing. 'Josh' is an archaic US term for light teasing.
Connotations
In both varieties, the word's negativity or playfulness is context-dependent.
Frequency
Equally common in both dialects.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Subject] tease [Object] about [Topic][Subject] is teasing [Object][Subject] can't take teasingVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Just pulling your leg (light teasing)”
- “Take it in good part (accept teasing well)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare, except in informal team dynamics ('There's some gentle teasing about his coffee habit').
Academic
Used in sociological/psychological studies of bullying, social bonding, and communication.
Everyday
Very common in social and family interactions to describe playful or annoying provocation.
Technical
Not a technical term.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- Stop winding him up, you lot!
- She teased him mercilessly about his new haircut.
American English
- Quit teasing your sister!
- He was just teasing you about the mistake.
adverb
British English
- 'Oh, really?' she said teasingly.
- He smiled teasingly before revealing the truth.
American English
- 'Is that so?' he asked teasingly.
- She nudged him teasingly.
adjective
British English
- She gave him a teasing glance.
- His teasing comments were all in good fun.
American English
- He has a teasing sense of humor.
- She asked with a teasing smile.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- My brother is teasing me.
- She said 'no' but she was just teasing.
- The children were teasing the dog with a toy.
- I don't like it when they tease me about my accent.
- His constant teasing eventually crossed the line into bullying.
- There's a fine line between friendly teasing and causing offence.
- The interviewer's teasing questions were designed to unsettle the candidate and elicit a more emotional response.
- Anthropologists suggest that ritualised teasing serves as a mechanism for reinforcing social bonds and hierarchies.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a cat TEASING a mouse before catching it - playful but with an edge of provocation.
Conceptual Metaphor
TEASING IS TUGGING (pulling someone's leg, needling), TEASING IS A GAME (playful, with rules).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'дразнить' (to provoke an animal/child), which is more one-sided and lacks the playful 'banter' element. 'Подкалывать' or 'подшучивать' are closer.
- Avoid using 'издеваться' as a direct translation; it implies severe mockery/cruelty.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'teasing' to mean simply 'joking' without the provocative element.
- Confusing spelling: 'teasing' vs. 'teezing'.
- Using it in overly formal contexts where 'banter' or 'provocation' might be better.
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following best describes 'good-natured teasing'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. It can be positive and affectionate within close relationships where everyone understands the boundaries. Context and tone are key.
Teasing becomes bullying when it is repetitive, intended to harm, involves a power imbalance, and the target finds it distressing and cannot make it stop.
Yes. As a noun: 'The teasing was getting on my nerves.' As a verb (base form 'tease'): 'Don't tease your brother.' The '-ing' form can also be a present participle or a gerund.
Not exactly. Sarcasm often uses irony to mock or convey contempt. Teasing is more about playful provocation and may or may not use sarcasm. Sarcasm is generally more cutting.
Explore