such a tease

USAGE SUMMARY

"such a tease" is a correct and commonly used phrase in written English.
It is used to describe someone or something that is intentionally flirting or playfully leading someone on, without any intention of following through. Example: He always knows how to playfully tease her, but she never takes him seriously. He's such a tease.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

27 human-written examples

"It's such a tease.

The New York Times - Sports

She's such a tease.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Because it's such a tease?" Apparently so.

The New York Times - Books

Oh that Tuymans, he's such a tease.

The Guardian - Arts

Terror has rarely presented itself as such a tease.

The New York Times - Arts

"I'm such a tease and you're such a flirt".

The New York Times - Arts

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

33 human-written examples

Virtual reality — such a tease… In the meanwhile, Rift early adopters will have to make do with the Xbox One controller that the headset ships with (and the two bundled games).

TechCrunch

This is such a teasing conundrum, that I'm not surprised it received such an overwhelming response.

The Guardian

Great thinking, Sony, but fix it or don't include such a useless tease.

Huffington Post

I feel like such a blog tease, but I just don't want to spoil anything for you.

Huffington Post

Sal Cinquemani of Slant Magazine agreed, writing that although "Britney, [the album], fills her role of guilty pleasure (the disc certainly satiates more than the stunted growth of last year's Oops!...I Did It Again), it's time for Spears to quit being such a cock-tease and cook something up that will satisfy the ever-vacillating hype-machine".

Wikipedia

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "such a tease" to describe a person, situation, or advertisement that initially promises more than it delivers, creating a sense of playful frustration.

Common error

Avoid using "such a tease" in contexts where the teasing behavior is genuinely harmful or manipulative. The phrase implies a lighthearted and playful intention, not malicious intent.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "such a tease" primarily functions as an adjectival phrase that modifies a noun or pronoun, describing someone or something exhibiting playfully provocative behavior. Ludwig AI confirms this with examples like "It's such a tease, make a great dip and you can't do anything but look at it forever."

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

61%

Wiki

10%

Science

7%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "such a tease" is a common and generally acceptable adjectival phrase used to describe someone or something that is playfully provocative or tantalizing. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is often used to express amusement or mild frustration in informal contexts. While predominantly found in News & Media, it's important to consider the context and relationship before using it, as its playful nature might not be appropriate in all situations. Related phrases like "quite the tease" and "a real flirt" offer similar meanings with slightly different emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

quite the tease

Replaces "such" with "quite the", emphasizing the degree of teasing behavior.

a real flirt

Substitutes the teasing aspect with a more direct reference to flirting.

intentionally tantalizing

Replaces the phrase with a more formal and descriptive expression.

deliberately provocative

Emphasizes the intentional nature of the teasing and its potential to provoke.

a playful heartbreaker

Highlights the charming and potentially hurtful aspect of being a tease.

leading someone on

Focuses on the action of enticing or deceiving someone.

stringing someone along

Emphasizes the act of prolonging someone's hope or expectation.

playing hard to get

Describes the behavior of making oneself difficult to obtain or please.

giving mixed signals

Highlights the confusing and inconsistent messages being sent.

a master of seduction

Elevates the teasing to a level of skill and artistry in enticing others.

FAQs

How can I use the phrase "such a tease" in a sentence?

You can use "such a tease" to describe someone who playfully withholds affection or information, or something that tantalizes without fully delivering. For example: "The new trailer for the movie is "such a tease", it reveals very little of the plot."

What's a less informal way to say "such a tease"?

For a more formal tone, consider using phrases like "intentionally tantalizing" or "deliberately provocative". These options convey a similar meaning but with a more serious and less playful tone.

Is it appropriate to call someone "such a tease" in a professional setting?

Using "such a tease" in a professional environment might be inappropriate depending on the relationship and context. It's generally better to avoid potentially flirtatious or suggestive language in professional settings.

What is the difference between ""such a tease"" and "playing hard to get"?

"Such a tease" describes someone who is playfully alluring or tantalizing, whereas "playing hard to get" refers specifically to the act of making oneself difficult to obtain as a strategy, often in a romantic context.