tease (one) about (someone or something)
To taunt, gibe, or mock one in a lighthearted, playful, or annoying manner about someone or something. My friends keep teasing me about my crush on Susie Perkins. We kept teasing Sarah about her new boyfriend.
tease (one) into (doing something)
To provoke or incite one to do something by mocking, gibing, or making fun of them. My friends teased me into joining the football team, saying I was a sissy if I didn't. I kind of liked my mullet, but everyone at work teased me into getting it cut.
tease (one) with (something)
1. To tantalize or torment one with something they cannot or should not have. I'm trying to stick to my diet, but my roommate keeps teasing me with all the cakes and cookies she likes to bake. I loved teasing my friends with pictures of sunny beaches while I was on vacation in the Bahamas.
2. To arouse one sexually with something, especially with no intention of engaging in sexual activity with one. I've just never understood the appeal of strip clubs. You pay to go watch women tease you with their naked bodies and erotic dances, and then you just leave more sexually frustrated than when you arrived. She kept lifting up her skirt to tease me with glimpses of her thighs.
tease (someone or something) out of (someone or something)
1. To separate something that has become entangled with something else. A noun or pronoun is used between "tease" and "out." My mother used a hairbrush to tease the knot out of my hair.
2. To gradually or incrementally extract or uncover a piece of information from someone or something, as through careful analysis or probing. A noun or pronoun is used between "tease" and "out." I was only able to tease the meaning out of the film after watching it again for a fourth time. After a lot of probing and coaxing, we finally teased an answer out of the boss.
3. To lure, entice, or tempt someone or an animal out of something or some place. A noun or pronoun is used between "tease" and "out." The smell of freshly baked muffins teased me out of bed the next morning. The zoo keepers used slabs of meat to tease the tiger out of its cage so the people could see it.
tease out
1. To separate something that has become entangled. A noun or pronoun can be used between "tease" and "out." My mother used a hairbrush to tease the knot out of my hair.
2. To gradually or incrementally extract or uncover a piece of information, as through careful analysis or probing. A noun or pronoun can be used between "tease" and "out." I was able to tease out the meaning of the film only after watching it again for the fourth time. After a lot of probing and coaxing, we finally teased an answer out of the boss.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
tease someone about someone or something
to make fun of someone about someone or something; to poke fun at someone about someone or something. The boys teased Don about his girlfriend. Stop teasing me about it!
tease someone into doing something
to force someone to do something through teasing or tormenting. Sam teased her into doing what he wanted. Perhaps you can tease him into leaving, but he won't go if you ask him.
tease something out
Fig. to separate threads or hairs by combing. The hairdresser teased Jill's hair out carefully. The hairdresser teased out Jill's hair.
tease something out of something
and tease something outto lure something out of something by teasing or tempting. I managed to tease the cat out of the tree with a bit offish. I teased out the cat.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.