tease

Everyday

1. To tease someone means to laugh at them or make jokes about them, in a friendly way or an unkind way. tree →
2. To tease an animal means to annoy it on purpose. tree →
3. A tease is a person who likes to tease others. tree →

In the lessons

In school and feelings, friendly teasing is gentle and fun for both sides; teasing that hurts, is about looks, families or differences, or keeps going after «stop» is unkind and can be bullying — tell an adult. In safety, teasing animals (poking, pulling tails, waving food) can make them angry and bite or scratch. In stories, brothers and sisters tease each other. «Just teasing!» says you didn't mean it seriously.

Examples

• My big brother likes to tease me. tree →
• Don't tease the dog; it might bite. tree →
• They teased him about his new haircut. tree →
• I was only teasing; I'm sorry. tree →
• Stop teasing your sister! tree →
• It's unkind to tease someone about their name. tree →
• She's such a tease! tree →

Note

Regular verb: teased, teasing (drop the e). Noun «teasing». If someone says «stop», it is time to stop. Do not confuse «tease» with «tees» (golf tees) or «teas».