tantalisingly
gb/tˈæntəlɪsɪŋli/ us/tˈæntəlɪsɪŋli/
C1
English
csábítóan, sejtelmesen, hajszálnyira, majdnem
C1
1
csábítóan
B2
sejtelmesen
B2
Usage pattern:
tantalisingly + [verb/adjective/adverb]
The menu described the dessert so tantalisingly that we ordered it immediately.
Az étlapon olyan csábítóan írták le a desszertet, hogy azonnal rendeltünk belőle.
She spoke tantalisingly about a new job but wouldn’t say where.
Sejtelmesen beszélt egy új állásról, de nem árulta el, hol.
The trailer offered a tantalisingly short glimpse of the next season.
Learner examples
The smell from the bakery was tantalisingly sweet.
A pékségből áradó illat csábítóan édes volt.
He smiled tantalisingly and said nothing.
Sejtelmesen elmosolyodott, és nem mondott semmit.
Common mistake:
In American English the usual spelling is tantalizingly (with z). Also, it describes the way something is presented, not the thing’s literal taste or smell only.
Meaning
In a tempting, teasing way
Collocations
tantalisingly delicious
|tantalisingly suggestive
|tantalisingly slow
|tantalisingly mysterious
|tantalisingly unclear
|tantalisingly incomplete
|tantalisingly brief
|tantalisingly withheld
|tantalisingly seductive
|tantalisingly appealing
Synonyms
temptingly (More general; less emphasis on frustration.)
|
teasingly (Highlights playful provocation.)
|
seductively (Often suggests romantic or sexual attraction.)
|
intriguingly (Focuses more on curiosity than desire.)
Antonyms
unappealingly (Opposite effect: does not attract interest or desire.)
|
openly (Not withheld or hinted at; fully revealed.)
Themes
emotions
|desire
|communication
|relationships
|food_drink
Definition
In a way that makes you want something a lot, but you cannot have it yet.
In a way that makes you strongly want something by offering only a hint of it or keeping it just out of reach.
C1
2
hajszálnyira
B2
majdnem
A2
Usage pattern:
tantalisingly + close/near + (to) [goal/result]
They were tantalisingly close to winning when the match was called off.
Hajszálnyira voltak a győzelemtől, amikor lefújták a meccset.
The researchers are tantalisingly near to a cure, but more trials are needed.
A kutatók hajszálnyira vannak a gyógymódtól, de még több vizsgálatra van szükség.
Her name was on the tip of my tongue, tantalisingly close but unreachable.
Learner examples
We were tantalisingly close to finishing.
Hajszálnyira voltunk a befejezéstől.
The team came tantalisingly close to the final.
A csapat hajszálnyira volt a döntőbe jutástól.
Common mistake:
Usually used with close/near; avoid using it as a simple synonym of ‘very’ in all contexts.
Meaning
Almost, but frustratingly not yet
Collocations
tantalisingly close
|tantalisingly near
|tantalisingly close to victory
|tantalisingly close to the truth
|tantalisingly close to completion
|tantalisingly close to a breakthrough
|tantalisingly close to the record
|tantalisingly close to an answer
Synonyms
agonisingly (Stronger sense of emotional pain or tension.)
|
frustratingly (Focuses on annoyance rather than attraction.)
|
nearly (Neutral; lacks the sense of teasing frustration.)
|
almost (Neutral and very common; less expressive.)
Antonyms
nowhere near (Not close at all.)
|
far from (At a great distance from being achieved.)
Themes
time
|goals
|sports
|science_tech
|daily_life
Definition
Very near to success or a result, but not successful yet.
To a degree that is very near to being achieved, reached, or discovered, but still not quite there.
Grammar
Dictionary form
tantalisingly
IPA
GB/tˈæntəlɪsɪŋli/
US/tˈæntəlɪsɪŋli/
Syllables & stress
tan - tal - isingly (3 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (tan)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: tantalisingly
- Plural: tantalisinglies
Expressions
tantalisingly close
1/tˈæntəlɪsɪŋli klˈoʊs/
fixed phrase
very near but not achieved
Almost done or almost reached, but not yet.
Examples
- We were tantalisingly close to finishing the project when the server crashed.
- The team came tantalisingly close to winning the final.
- The solution seemed tantalisingly close, but we couldn’t prove it.
Learner examples
- We are tantalisingly close to the end.
- She was tantalisingly close to the finish line.
tantalisingly close
1/tˈæntəlɪsɪŋli klˈoʊs/
fixed phrase
Very near to success
Almost successful, but not yet successful.
Examples
- The company is tantalisingly close to launching the product.
- We came tantalisingly close to beating our personal best.
- Investigators believe they are tantalisingly close to identifying the suspect.
Learner examples
- We were tantalisingly close to winning.
- She is tantalisingly close to finishing the report.
tantalisingly out of reach
1/tˈæntəlɪsɪŋli ˈaʊt əv ɹˈit͡ʃ/
fixed phrase
Desired but not obtainable
You want it, but you still cannot get it.
Examples
- A promotion felt tantalisingly out of reach after the reorganisation.
- For many families, home ownership remains tantalisingly out of reach.
- The final clue was there, tantalisingly out of reach, hidden in the last paragraph.
Learner examples
- The prize was tantalisingly out of reach.
- My goal is still tantalisingly out of reach.