tickle
gb/tˈɪkəl/ us/tˈɪkəl/
A2
English
csiklandoz, ingerel, kapar, megmosolyogtat, mulattat, felkelti valakinek az érdeklődését, felcsigázza valakinek a kíváncsiságát, csiklandozás, csiklandozó érzés, kaparó érzés
VERB
A2
1
csiklandoz
B1
Usage pattern:
tickle [someone] (on/in [body part])
She tickled the baby’s feet and he burst out laughing.
Megcsiklandozta a kisbaba talpát, mire a baba hangosan felnevetett.
Don’t tickle me—I’m really ticklish.
Ne csiklandozz, nagyon csiklandós vagyok.
He tickled her under the chin to make her smile.
Learner examples
She tickled my hand.
Megcsiklandozta a kezemet.
Please don’t tickle me.
Kérlek, ne csiklandozz.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use it for any touch; it usually means a light touch that makes you laugh or want to scratch.
Meaning
touch lightly to cause laughter
Collocations
tickle someone
|tickle your feet
|tickle someone under the chin
|tickle someone’s ribs
|give someone a tickle
|stop tickling me
|tickle attack
|be ticklish
|tickle gently
|tickle until someone laughs
Synonyms
tease (Often broader; can be verbal, not just touching.)
|
tickle (Neutral term; more specific than general touching.)
Antonyms
soothe (Calms a sensation rather than provoking it.)
|
leave alone (Avoids touching or provoking a reaction.)
Themes
body_health
|daily_life
|relationships
Definition
To touch someone lightly so they laugh or feel itchy.
To touch someone lightly, especially on a sensitive part of the body, in a way that makes them laugh or feel an itchy sensation.
VERB
B1
2
Usage pattern:
[something] tickles [someone]'s throat/nose; tickle at [someone]'s throat
The dry air tickled my throat and made me cough.
A száraz levegő kaparta a torkomat, és köhögni kezdtem.
A bit of pepper tickled his nose.
Egy kevés bors megcsiklandozta az orrát.
Smoke was tickling the back of her throat.
Learner examples
The dust tickled my nose.
A por csiklandozta az orromat.
Cold air tickled my throat.
A hideg levegő kaparta a torkomat.
Common mistake:
Don’t use it only for laughter; it can also describe irritation in the throat or nose.
Meaning
cause an itchy throat feeling
Collocations
tickle your throat
|tickle your nose
|tickle at the back of your throat
|dust tickled my nose
|a cough that tickles
|something tickled my throat
|tickle-induced cough
|tickle sensation
|tickle in the throat
|tickle your sinuses
Synonyms
itch (More general; not limited to throat/nose.)
|
irritate (Stronger and more formal than tickle.)
Antonyms
soothe (Reduces irritation in the throat or nose.)
|
relieve (Takes away an uncomfortable sensation.)
Themes
body_health
Definition
To make your throat or nose feel itchy so you want to cough or sneeze.
To cause a slight irritating or itchy feeling, especially in the throat or nose, often making someone want to cough or sneeze.
VERB
B1
3
mulattat
B2
Usage pattern:
tickle [someone]; it tickles [someone] that [clause]
His dry comments always tickle me.
A fanyar megjegyzései mindig megmosolyogtatnak.
It tickled her that he still remembered her birthday.
Megmosolyogtatta, hogy még mindig emlékezett a születésnapjára.
The kids were tickled by the silly voice.
Learner examples
That story tickled me.
Az a történet megmosolyogtatott.
His joke tickled her.
A vicce megmosolyogtatta őt.
Common mistake:
In this meaning, you usually ‘tickle’ a person (not ‘tickle a joke’).
Meaning
amuse or delight someone
Collocations
tickle someone’s sense of humor
|tickle me
|that really tickled her
|tickle someone no end
|tickle someone to bits
|tickle the audience
|tickle someone’s funny bone
|what tickles you?
|tickled by the idea
|it tickles me that...
Synonyms
amuse (More neutral and common in formal writing.)
|
delight (Suggests stronger pleasure than tickle.)
Antonyms
bore (Makes someone uninterested rather than amused.)
|
annoy (Creates irritation rather than pleasure.)
Themes
emotions
|communication
Definition
To make someone laugh or feel happy.
To amuse or delight someone, often in a light, playful way.
VERB
B2
4
Usage pattern:
tickle [someone]'s interest/fancy; tickle [someone]
The course description tickled my interest, so I signed up.
A kurzus leírása felkeltette az érdeklődésemet, ezért jelentkeztem.
That kind of mystery really tickles her curiosity.
Az efféle rejtély igazán felcsigázza a kíváncsiságát.
The idea of a quick weekend trip tickled him.
Learner examples
The topic tickled my interest.
A téma felkeltette az érdeklődésemet.
The idea tickled her.
Az ötlet felkeltette az érdeklődését.
Common mistake:
This meaning is often used with ‘interest’ or ‘fancy’ (e.g., ‘tickle my interest’).
Meaning
interest or appeal slightly
Collocations
tickle your interest
|tickle someone’s curiosity
|tickle someone’s fancy
|tickle the imagination
|tickle your appetite (for something)
|tickle the senses
|tickle a desire
|tickle someone with an idea
|tickle someone’s taste
|tickle someone’s enthusiasm
Synonyms
intrigue (Often suggests a stronger, more serious interest.)
|
appeal (Focuses on attractiveness rather than the spark of interest.)
Antonyms
repel (Creates dislike rather than attraction.)
|
discourage (Reduces interest rather than sparking it.)
Themes
emotions
|daily_life
Definition
To make someone interested in something.
To interest, attract, or appeal to someone, often slightly or in a playful way.
NOUN
A2
5
Usage pattern:
a tickle (on [body part])
I felt a tickle on my ankle and looked down to see a feather.
Csiklandozást éreztem a bokámon, lenéztem, és megláttam egy madártollat.
Stop it—your beard gives me a tickle.
Hagyd abba – csiklandoz a szakállad.
The baby giggled at the tickle on her tummy.
Learner examples
I felt a tickle on my hand.
Csiklandozást éreztem a kezemen.
That feather gave me a tickle.
Az a madártoll megcsiklandozott.
Common mistake:
Don’t confuse ‘a tickle’ (a sensation) with ‘tick’ (the insect).
Meaning
a light itchy touch sensation
Collocations
feel a tickle
|a tickle on my arm
|a tickle on your feet
|get a tickle
|a little tickle
|a gentle tickle
|give someone a tickle
|that tickle feeling
|a tickle of feathers
|a tickle of fingertips
Synonyms
tingle (Often describes a pins-and-needles feeling, not caused by light touching.)
|
itch (Usually more uncomfortable and less playful than a tickle.)
Antonyms
numbness (Lack of feeling rather than a light sensation.)
|
comfort (A general pleasant state rather than a specific sensation.)
Themes
body_health
|daily_life
Definition
A light, itchy feeling from being touched.
A light touch or sensation that makes you want to laugh or scratch.
NOUN
B1
6
Usage pattern:
a tickle in [someone]'s throat/nose
I’ve had a tickle in my throat all day.
Egész nap kaparó érzés van a torkomban.
She cleared her throat to get rid of the tickle.
Megköszörülte a torkát, hogy elmúljon a kaparó érzés.
A tickle in his nose made him sneeze twice.
Learner examples
I have a tickle in my throat.
Kaparó érzés van a torkomban.
The tickle made me cough.
A kaparó érzéstől köhögni kezdtem.
Common mistake:
This ‘tickle’ is usually in the throat or nose and is not about laughing.
Meaning
a slight urge to cough
Collocations
a tickle in my throat
|a tickle in your nose
|a persistent tickle
|a slight tickle
|a throat tickle
|get a tickle
|a tickle that makes you cough
|an annoying tickle
|feel a tickle
|a tickle from allergies
Synonyms
irritation (More general and often more formal.)
|
itch (Can be anywhere; less specific to coughing/sneezing.)
Antonyms
relief (The uncomfortable feeling has gone away.)
|
ease (Comfort rather than irritation.)
Themes
body_health
Definition
A small itchy feeling that makes you cough or sneeze.
A slight irritating feeling in the throat or nose that makes you want to cough or sneeze.
Grammar
Dictionary form
tickle
IPA
GB/tˈɪkəl/
US/tˈɪkəl/
Syllables & stress
tickle (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (tickle)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: tickle
- Plural: tickle, tickles
Verb
- Base: tickle
- 3rd Person Singular: tickles
- Present Participle: tickling
- Past: tickled
Expressions
get a tickle out of (something)
1/ɡˈɛt ə tˈɪkəl ˈaʊt əv sˈʌmθɪŋ/
fixed phrase
informal
find something mildly funny
To find something a little funny.
Examples
- He gets a tickle out of fixing things that other people throw away.
- She got a tickle out of watching the dog chase its tail.
- I still get a tickle out of old sitcom reruns.
tickle (someone) pink
1/tˈɪkəl sˈʌmwˌʌn pˈɪŋk/
idiom
informal
make someone very pleased
To make someone very happy.
Examples
- She was tickled pink to get the job offer.
- His grandma was tickled pink when he called.
- I’m tickled pink that you could make it tonight.
Learner examples
- I was tickled pink.
- She was tickled pink about the news.
tickle someone’s fancy
1/tˈɪkəl sˈʌmwˌʌnz fˈænsi/
fixed phrase
appeal to someone
To make someone like or want something.
Examples
- None of the desserts tickled my fancy, so I just had coffee.
- If you see a jacket that tickles your fancy, try it on.
- The idea of camping didn’t tickle his fancy.
Learner examples
- This book tickles my fancy.
- That plan doesn’t tickle her fancy.
tickle someone’s funny bone
1/tˈɪkəl sˈʌmwˌʌnz fˈʌni bˈoʊn/
idiom
informal
make someone laugh
To make someone laugh.
Examples
- That video really tickled my funny bone.
- His impression of the boss tickled everyone’s funny bone.
- Silly puns always tickle her funny bone.
Learner examples
- That joke tickled my funny bone.
tickle the ivories
1/tˈɪkəl ðə ɪvˈɔɹiz/
idiom
informal
play the piano (humorous)
To play the piano, said in a funny or light way.
Examples
- After dinner, he sat down to tickle the ivories for a while.
- She used to tickle the ivories in a jazz band when she was younger.
- If you can tickle the ivories, we’d love some live music at the party.
tickle the ivories
1/tˈɪkəl ðə ɪvˈɔɹiz/
idiom
informal
play the piano
To play the piano.
Examples
- After dinner, he sat down to tickle the ivories for a while.
- She can really tickle the ivories when the mood hits.
- They hired a guy to tickle the ivories in the hotel bar.