teasing
/tiːz/ (bre, ipa) · [tˈizɪŋ] /tiːz/ (ame, ipa) · [tˈizɪŋ] /ˈtēz How to pronounce tease (audio)/ (ame, mw)
teasing — verb
- teasingpresent simple I / you / we / they
- teasings3rd person singular
- teasinging-ing form
- teasingedpast simple
1. speaking to someone in a joking or slightly mean way that makes them feel laughe
speaking to someone in a joking or slightly mean way that makes them feel laughed at, whether the mood is friendly or meant to sting.
Jabari kept teasing his sister about the pink paint on her nose.
be teasing someone about something
At lunch, Dahlia was teasing Christopher for bringing three forks from home.
be teasing someone for a reason
Salma knew Mauricio's class-robot comment was only teasing at lunch.
The older boys were teasing Xiu until the coach told them to stop.
Yael's joking smile showed she was teasing, not trying to start a fight.
- comforting
trying to make the other person feel better instead of exposed
- praising
speaking positively about the person rather than making them the target
文法句型
be teasing [someone]
be teasing [someone] about [something]
be teasing [someone] for [reason]
用法筆記
Often takes a person as the object, with about or for naming what the joke targets. Distinguish from taunting or mocking: teasing can stay friendly, but the tone still depends on whether the other person is laughing too.
常見錯誤
2. showing or mentioning only a little about a film, product, plan, or event so peo
showing or mentioning only a little about a film, product, plan, or event so people stay curious and wait for the full reveal.
The studio is teasing a new trailer with two posters and no release date.
teasing a release with limited details
Before the launch, Chiara kept teasing the phone's camera on social media.
teasing something on social media
On breakfast radio, Élise was teasing a surprise guest for Friday's show.
The band spent weeks teasing snippets of the song before midnight release.
Anong kept teasing next month's menu by posting blurred dessert photos.
- hinting at
broader and less tied to promotion
- previewing
shows a sample more openly; less emphasis on mystery
- trailing
especially British in media contexts; often for something coming soon
- revealing
giving the information openly instead of holding it back
- announcing
stating the full news directly
文法句型
be teasing [product / announcement]
teasing [something] on social media
teasing [something] with a short clip / photo
用法筆記
The object is usually a product, performance, guest, or announcement, not a person. This sense is especially common in advertising, entertainment news, and social-media promotion, where the point is to hold details back rather than explain everything.
常見錯誤
3. brushing sections of hair back toward the roots so the hair stands fuller and hi
brushing sections of hair back toward the roots so the hair stands fuller and higher.
Before the wedding, Tanvi was teasing the crown of her hair with a fine comb.
teasing the crown of the hair
The stylist kept teasing Jabari's curls until the updo looked wider.
teasing hair to create fuller shape
In the mirror, Salma teased the front layers to add height above her forehead.
For the costume party, Chiara was teasing one section before pinning the rest back.
- backcombing
the standard salon term for the same technique
- ratting
more informal and especially common in older beauty talk
- smoothing
making the hair lie neat and flat
- flattening
taking volume out instead of adding it
文法句型
be teasing [hair / roots / crown]
teasing [a section of hair] with a comb
teasing [hair] to add height
用法筆記
Used in hairstyling, usually with hair, roots, crown, or a section of hair as the object. Distinguish from ordinary brushing: teasing pushes hair back toward the scalp to build lift, not to smooth it down.
常見錯誤
teasing — noun
1. the behaviour of joking about someone or needling them again and again, sometime
the behaviour of joking about someone or needling them again and again, sometimes lightly and sometimes in a way that hurts.
The teasing on the school bus stopped when the driver looked in the mirror.
teasing as a group behaviour
After weeks of teasing about his accent, Christopher stopped answering in class.
teasing about a personal trait
Friendly teasing filled the kitchen as Yael tried to flip the first pancake.
A little teasing between cousins is normal, but cruel comments are not.
- encouragement
speech that supports rather than needles
- kindness
general opposite in tone and effect
文法句型
teasing about [something]
teasing from [someone / group]
friendly teasing
用法筆記
Usually uncountable: people speak of teasing in general, not 'a teasing'. For one particular insulting line, English more often uses joke, remark, or taunt depending on the tone.