ADVERTISEMENT

Some psychologists believe that teasing can be a great tool for building healthy relationships. Of course, it's not for everyone but couples who are satisfied with their partnership know how to poke fun at each other without hurting their loved ones.

In other words, if you want a quick and easy way to bring more fun into your already healthy relationship, amp up the teasing. "Being playful is such an important part of a relationship," Julienne Derichs, a licensed marriage and family therapist with Couples Counseling Today, told Bustle. "It helps couples connect, de-stress, and it acts [as] an important repair technique when couples are feeling tense over conflict. Laughter and teasing can help de-escalate the conflict and help you remember that you actually like each other."

And there's a viral Twitter thread that can give you some ideas on how to do it. After writer Sophia Benoit tweeted "Literally nothing on Earth is better than repeatedly doing a bit your partner doesn't like," people began sharing ways in which they tease their significant others. Here are some of the best ones.

"What inspired me to make the tweet was doing a bit that my boyfriend hates, which was me saying the phrase 'slide in like a tuna fish,' a phrase I made up which means absolutely nothing, but which he hates," Sophia Benoit, author of the upcoming book Well, This Is Exhausting, told Bored Panda.

"He and I love doing repeated, sustained jokes that the other person pretends to dislike way more than they actually do. If either of us did something that actually bothered the other person, that would not be fun or connective or loving and we would not enjoy that!"

"I think the reaction was overwhelmingly positive and people loved sharing their own versions of this; I think it’s pretty universal for couples that actually like one another," Sophia said about teasing.

But since we all have weak spots in our self-esteem, even friendly, playful remarks can hurt your partner. If that happens, experts suggest keeping on the straight and narrow and apologize. Shifting blame and saying that they need to "learn to take a joke" or "shouldn't be so sensitive" could make the situation worse and damage an otherwise healthy relationship. You can find some valuable tips on how to make sure that teasing creates positive feelings for you and your partner here.

ADVERTISEMENT

Personally, Benoit is pro-teasing, but she stressed there's a massive difference between teasing someone about something harmless that is not a trigger for them and teasing someone about something they're sensitive about.

"Everyone (even couples) crosses the line occasionally because they don't know that their partner is sensitive about something, but I think it's the response that really matters," she said. "If you continue 'teasing' your partner about something they genuinely don't want to be teased about (like their appearance or parts of their personality that they don’t want to be a joke for example), then you aren't teasing, you're being cruel. Teasing is for things like 'Haha, you leave half-empty water cups everywhere' or 'You are afraid of attics but you won't admit it.' Not serious stuff."

Relationships shouldn't be complicated. On the contrary. They should be fun, engaging, and above all, comforting. So get playful, enjoy your partner, and let them enjoy you too.

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
#9

People-Share-Best-Ways-They-Tease-Partners

c_d_ford Report

Add photo comments
POST
alexdureich avatar
Michigan Guy
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

wait, now...she doesn't offer you her favor to wear? a scarf, a veil...something? jeeebus, chivalry really IS dead, then...

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#11

People-Share-Best-Ways-They-Tease-Partners

sarburns Report

Add photo comments
POST
justforfacebook avatar
ƒιѕн
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

omg, had a see and say when I was little and then the damn pull string broke.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#14

People-Share-Best-Ways-They-Tease-Partners

douglascodes Report

Add photo comments
POST
hedwards avatar
H Edwards
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This reminds me of the bit from Brooklyn 99, where they do the 'title of your sex tape' joke.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#17

People-Share-Best-Ways-They-Tease-Partners

Report

Add photo comments
POST
corinemcmillan avatar
Artoonist Corine
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My husband and son do this to me with beef jerky - I hate the smell of it!

View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#24

People-Share-Best-Ways-They-Tease-Partners

sal_corrugata Report

Add photo comments
POST
jacobs_vic avatar
Vic 404
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Some things you have to get used to to appreciate them.

#25

People-Share-Best-Ways-They-Tease-Partners

katefeetie Report

Add photo comments
POST
fluffyfricks avatar
WhatEvenIsLife
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Years ago, my husband was talking about a movie that had just come out that he wanted to see. Couldn't remember the name of the film and somehow his brain decided it was called "The Hunter and the Rainbow." It was "Snow White and the Huntsman." To this day, any time he's trying to remember the name of something, I ask him if it's "The Hunter and the Rainbow" and I laugh every single time. He's such a good sport.

View more commentsArrow down menu
#27

People-Share-Best-Ways-They-Tease-Partners

Report

Add photo comments
POST
laurennewman_1 avatar
Little king trash mouth
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Peak dad joke. My dad said this to me and my sister anytime we saw an RV trailing a car. Like every time.

View more commentsArrow down menu
#28

People-Share-Best-Ways-They-Tease-Partners

scottb804 Report

Add photo comments
POST
jpwoodman1980 avatar
JP
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Whenever my husband gets me flowers or buys me something nice for Anniversary...Christmas...Birthday, I sigh and tell him "Damn, you just renewed your contract for another year." LOL

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#30

People-Share-Best-Ways-They-Tease-Partners

ThePracticalEsc Report

Add photo comments
POST
stellalehggs avatar
StellaLehggs
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My friends LIVE to tell puns around me because of how I react to them. An eyeroll and scoff is the usual, but they know they've won if they get a head shake. XD

simon_37 avatar
Treessimontrees
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

When my wife says "I'm taking a shower" - I always say, "where are you going to take it, won't that be a lot of work?"

arteest424 avatar
Marcy Brown
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Whenever my husband calls me and asks me what I'm doing I always come up with the most outlandish things. "What are you doing?" "I'm downhill skiing in the Alps right now, whattya want?" It irritates him so much.

simon_37 avatar
Treessimontrees
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I have a friend in New Orleans and I purposefully bring into conversation "beignets" and pronounce it in a different and wrong way each time.

tammykirks avatar
Tammy Kirks
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I do this to my husband all the time. Always makes me laugh hysterically.

View more commentsArrow down menu

Note: this post originally had 45 images. It’s been shortened to the top 30 images based on user votes.