a teasing voice

USAGE SUMMARY

"a teasing voice" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to describe the manner of speaking of someone who is jesting or mocking in a playful way. For example: "He asked the question in a teasing voice, expecting her to already know the answer."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

She asked me, in a teasing voice, "How much would you give me for it?" "Twenty-five dollars," I said.

The New York Times

Neubauer remembers walking into the taproom one day and hearing a teasing voice yell out, "You bastard!

Vice

"Love you, Rachel," I prompt in a teasing voice.

The New York Times - Magazine

"Let me see if you got this by now," he told them in a teasing voice.

The New York Times

In her first conversation with O'Malley, trying to get information about the murder on Martha's Vineyard, the blond Van Buren deploys both a "deep, sexy tone" and a "teasing voice".

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

"Chinese," my aunt said in a soft, teasing voice, as if she had to apologize to both my uncle and the laundrymen.

The New Yorker

"The Big Heist" begins with a teasing voice-over by a police detective (John Heard) who describes Burke and his ragtag gang in a way that sets us up for a humorous story about lovable stumblebums who score big.

The New York Times

Murmurous, teasing voices confused with wind rippling through tall, coarse, gone-to-seed grass.

The New Yorker

Info wasn't flowing from the stage, but the on-screen demo teased voice integration and head tracking, which when combined with a traditional controller or wheel, should bring welcomed features to the staple racing game.

TechCrunch

"You know," she said now, her voice taking on a teasing tone that felt rusty and strange in her mouth.

The New York Times - Magazine

"Jimmy Mac," someone says in a teasing, gloating voice.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a teasing voice" to subtly convey a character's playful or ironic intent, adding depth to dialogue without explicitly stating their feelings.

Common error

Avoid using "a teasing voice" when the character's intention is genuinely malicious or hurtful. Teasing implies a degree of playfulness, so ensure it aligns with the overall tone and context.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a teasing voice" functions as an adjectival phrase modifying the noun 'voice'. It describes the quality or manner of the voice, indicating a playful or gently mocking tone. Ludwig confirms this is a valid and usable English phrase.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a teasing voice" is a grammatically sound and usable phrase in English, as validated by Ludwig. It functions as an adjectival phrase describing a voice that is playful or gently mocking. Predominantly found in News & Media, the phrase adds subtlety and nuance to dialogue, indicating the speaker's underlying intent. While relatively uncommon, its impact lies in its ability to convey humor or irony. When considering alternatives, phrases like "a playful voice" or "a mocking tone" offer similar but distinct shades of meaning. Therefore, leverage "a teasing voice" to enrich your writing with character and depth, bearing in mind the appropriate context and intention.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a playful voice

Substitutes "teasing" with "playful", indicating a lighthearted and jesting manner.

a jesting tone

Substitutes "teasing" with "jesting", highlighting the humorous and joking nature.

a mischievous voice

Substitutes "teasing" with "mischievous", implying a playful and slightly naughty manner.

a mocking tone

Replaces "teasing" with "mocking", suggesting a slightly more derisive or scornful quality.

a sarcastic tone

Substitutes "teasing" with "sarcastic", indicating the use of irony to convey contempt or ridicule.

a bantering tone

Uses "bantering" instead of "teasing", implying a friendly and humorous exchange.

a wry voice

Replaces "teasing" with "wry", suggesting a dryly humorous or ironic quality.

a taunting voice

Replaces "teasing" with "taunting", suggesting a more provocative or irritating quality.

a facetious voice

Replaces "teasing" with "facetious", indicating a playfully sarcastic or inappropriate manner.

a droll voice

Uses "droll" instead of "teasing", implying a dry and amusingly odd tone.

FAQs

How can I effectively use "a teasing voice" in writing?

Use "a teasing voice" to imply a character is being playful or gently mocking someone. It adds nuance without explicitly stating their intent. For example, instead of saying "He was joking", you can write, "He said with "a teasing voice", 'Are you sure you know what you're doing?'"

What are some situations where using "a teasing voice" might be inappropriate?

Using "a teasing voice" might be inappropriate in serious or formal contexts, where a more direct or respectful tone is required. It could also be misconstrued if the recipient is sensitive or the subject matter is delicate. Using "a serious tone" is more appropriate in such cases.

Are there alternative phrases I can use instead of "a teasing voice"?

Yes, depending on the specific nuance you want to convey, you can use alternatives such as "a playful voice", "a mocking tone", or "a bantering tone".

How does "a teasing voice" differ from "a sarcastic voice"?

"A teasing voice" implies a playful or gentle mockery, while "a sarcastic voice" often indicates a sharper, more cutting form of irony intended to convey contempt or disapproval. The level of intent behind sarcasm is often more harsh than the intent behind teasing.