14+ Messages To Subtly Tease A Guy Over Text - WikiHow

Skip to ContentQuizzes

• PRO Courses Hot Guides Tech Help Pro Expert Videos About wikiHow Pro Upgrade
• QUIZZES All Quizzes Hot Love Quizzes Personality Quizzes Trivia Quizzes Taylor Swift Quizzes
• EDIT Edit this Article
• EXPLORE About UsRandom ArticleQuizzesRequest a New Article Community DashboardTrendingForums Computers and ElectronicsComputersPhone SkillsTechnology HacksHealthMen's HealthMental HealthWomen's HealthRelationshipsDatingLoveRelationship Issues Hobbies and CraftsCraftsDrawingGamesEducation & CommunicationCommunication SkillsPersonal DevelopmentStudyingPersonal Care and StyleFashionHair CarePersonal Hygiene Quizzes Love Quizzes Personality Quizzes Fun Games Finance and BusinessHome and GardenRelationship QuizzesCars & Other Vehicles Food and EntertainingPersonal Care and StyleSports and FitnessComputers and Electronics HealthPets and AnimalsTravelEducation & Communication Hobbies and CraftsPhilosophy and ReligionWork WorldFamily Life Holidays and TraditionsRelationshipsYouth
• LOG IN

  Log in

  Social login does not work in incognito and private browsers. Please log in with your username or email to continue. Facebook Google wikiHow Account No account yet? Create an account
• RANDOM

• Home
• Random
• Browse Articles
• TrendingNew
• Quizzes & Games
• All QuizzesHot
• Love Quizzes
• Personality Quizzes
• Fun Games
• Dating Simulator
• Learn Something New
• Forums
• Courses
• Happiness Hub
• Explore More
• Support wikiHow
• About wikiHow

• Log in / Sign up

Terms of Use wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. Learn why people trust wikiHow

• Categories
• Relationships
• Dating
• Getting a Date
• Flirting

14+ Messages to Subtly Tease a Guy over Text Download Article Explore this Article IN THIS ARTICLE 1 Stick to what feels natural. 2 Use punctuation and emojis to hint at your meaning. 3 Give him a silly nickname and use it when you're texting. 4 Act like you're not that interested in him. 5 Don't say anything. 6 Poke fun at some of his habits. 7 Echo back whatever he just said. 8 Give him a compliment that shows you're into him. 9 Tell him you wish he was with you. 10 Ask him what you should wear. 11 Tell him you have a surprise for him. 12 Say you can't stop thinking about him. 13 Mention that you just got out of the shower. 14 Tell him you dreamt about him. 15 Bring up a sexy movie. Examples to Tease a Guy + Show 13 more... - Show less... Other Sections Video Related Articles References Written by Collette Gee | Edited by Amy Bobinger, BA

Last Updated: January 2, 2026 Fact Checked

Download Article X

This article was written by Collette Gee and by wikiHow staff writer, Amy Bobinger, BA. Collette Gee is a Relationship Coach, Certified Violence Prevention Specialist, the Author of "Finding Happily… No Rules, No Frogs, No Pretending." Focusing on creating meaningful romantic relationships, Collette uses her experience having worked in the mental health industry as a psych nurse to conduct relationship coaching, online courses, and workshops to help women and men find lasting love. Prior to Collette's coaching business, she worked in the mental health field as a psych nurse which has helped inform her practice to create and sustain happy, healthy meaningful romantic relationships. Her work has been featured on TLC, London Live, the Huffington Post, and CNN. There are 12 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 378,157 times.

When you're into a guy, sometimes you want to flirt without being too obvious. Text teasing is a great way to get him interested, but you can still play it off so you don't have to move faster than you want to.[1] We've rounded up some of our favorite suggestions to give his imagination just the right amount of fuel. He won't be able to stop thinking about you!This article is based on an interview with our professional dating coach, Collette Gee. Check out the full interview here.

Steps

1

Stick to what feels natural.

Download Article

1. Even when you're flirting, you should still be yourself. Sure, there's a certain amount of swagger you might put on when you're being flirty, and you might have to push out of your comfort zone just a little. But the most important thing is that you should be comfortable being yourself! If he's worth your time, he'll appreciate you for exactly who you are.
   • If you're a little shy when it comes to flirting, it's totally okay to go slow and stick to a more subtle approach.
   • Similarly, pick up on his vibes to get a feel for what he's into. If he goes quiet after you poke fun at him, he might not be into that, but if he laughs really hard, you can keep teasing him that way.
   • Reader Poll: We asked 938 wikiHow readers what they do if someone they’re flirting with isn’t reciprocating, and 78% of them said respect their wishes and gracefully end the conversation. [Take Poll] Be sure to pay attention to how he responds!
Advertisement

2

Use punctuation and emojis to hint at your meaning.

Download Article

1. This will add nuance to your texts. Since he can't hear your voice or see your face over text, your guy might need a little extra help to catch your flirtatious vibes. Emojis are the perfect way to add a little clarity—if you drop that heart-eye emoji, he's going to know exactly what you mean! And if you add an ellipsis to the end of your text, he's definitely going to be wondering what you didn't say.[2]
   • "Hey... ;)"
   • "I can't wait to see you..."
   • "I keep thinking about you 😉"
   • "You are 🔥🔥😍"

3

Give him a silly nickname and use it when you're texting.

Download Article

1. This will create more intimacy between the two of you. As an added bonus, it will probably make him laugh. It needs to be something that you only use when the two of you are alone, though—otherwise, he might get embarrassed.[3]
   • For instance, you might say, "Hi sexy pants!"
   • Try coming up with a nickname that calls back to an inside joke between the two of you, like "Old lady slayer" if he told you he always gets hit on by cute little old ladies at the grocery store.
   • Or, give him a nickname to tease him about something he did, like calling him "James Bond" because of his skill tracking down your number.
Advertisement

4

Act like you're not that interested in him.

Download Article

1. Lightly ribbing him can make him more excited to see you. A little friendly banter can make him feel like he needs to chase you—as long as you don't go too far. Just pull back a little and pretend you're not quite as into him as you really are. When you mix that into your flirting, you'll drive him crazy wondering how you really feel! Try saying things like: [4]
   • "Who said I want to see you?"
   • "You'll have to work harder than that to get a date from me!"
   • "I mean, I guess I can make a few minutes to talk to you..."
   • "Everybody knows you think I'm cute!"

5

Don't say anything.

Download Article

1. Sometimes it's better to make him wait for a couple of hours. Let him wonder what you're up to! That doesn't mean you have to play games where you put your phone down and don't answer for exactly 13 minutes. Instead, go find something to do—hang out with your friends, clean up your room, or take a walk. You can even take a picture of yourself to send to him later![5]
   • A good guy will love knowing you're out there being your best self instead of sitting by the phone waiting for his text—even if he secretly can't wait to hear from you again.
Advertisement

6

Poke fun at some of his habits.

Download Article

1. A little playful teasing can spark the chemistry between you. Everybody has a few things that they do over and over, often without realizing it. Teasing him about these things can actually be flattering since it means you're noticing details about him.[6] Just make sure to keep it light-hearted, since you don't want to hurt his feelings. And if he seems offended, give him a compliment to balance it out. For instance, you could say:[7]
   • "Oh come on, you can't pass a mirror without checking yourself out."
   • "I'll see you for dinner. I bet you're planning to wear that purple shirt again—you pick it every time we go downtown!"
   • "Will you and your Dodgers hat be at the party tomorrow?"

7

Echo back whatever he just said.

Download Article

1. Repeat his last message for a cute way to tease. Obviously this won't work for all messages—if he's talking about something sad or stressful, definitely hold off. However, if he's being cute and flirty, or even if you're just chatting about every-day stuff, this can be a fun way to mix things up. Just add a smile emoji at the end so he knows you're playing around.[8]
   • For instance, if he says, "I can't, I have a game Saturday," you might say, "I have a game Saturday :)"
   • If he says "I like your smile" you could say, "I like YOUR smile!"
Advertisement

8

Give him a compliment that shows you're into him.

Download Article

1. A little flattery will get you everywhere. If you want to up the flirtation factor, go beyond just complimenting his gorgeous eyes or charming smile.[9] Sure, those things are cute, but what makes him really special? You can always play it off later, but if you drop one of these compliments into your text, he's going to know you've been thinking about him. Try something like:[10]
   • "You're the best listener."
   • "I can tell you've been hitting the gym extra hard lately. Your abs look amazing!"
   • "Ugh that shirt looks so good on you!"
   • "I love your arms. You're so strong!"

9

Tell him you wish he was with you.

Download Article

1. If you've had a tough day, let him know. He'll instantly start thinking of ways he could help. In fact, he might just show up ready to put a smile on your face. Don't be afraid to give him specifics about what you had in mind, like:[11]
   • "I wish you were here to make me feel better."
   • "I had the toughest workout. I wish you could come give me a massage."
   • "Ugh work was so stressful. I really need a hug."
   • "I need some cuddles to get my mind off of things!"
   • "I'm so bored... I bet you could entertain me, though."
Advertisement

10

Ask him what you should wear.

Download Article

1. Send him a couple of outfit pics and ask him for help. Choose two outfits that you know make you look great and snap a pic of each. Then, send them to him and ask him which one he likes better. He'll love being asked for his opinion, but even better than that, he'll be picturing just how good those clothes will look on (and maybe off) you.[12]
   • Add a little detail if needed, like "This one with knee-high boots" or "This shirt with an extra button undone."
   • If you're heading to the pool or beach, send him a snap of your bathing suit!
   • Get a little extra daring by including the undies you plan to wear with the outfit. Or, maybe mention that you aren't going to wear any at all!

11

Tell him you have a surprise for him.

Download Article

1. Get him excited for the next time he'll see you. Of course, you need to have some surprise in mind, but it doesn't have to be anything elaborate. Maybe it's something as sweet as a pack of his favorite cookies—or maybe as spicy as some sexy lingerie. Give him hints if you'd like, but don't give away the whole surprise:[13]
   • If you're bringing him a snack, try teasing something like, "It's something tasty!"
   • If it's something you'll be wearing, you might send him a close-up picture of one lacy detail or a single strap.
   • If your surprise is something you want to do to him, you might simply hint, "🤐😉🔥"
Advertisement

12

Say you can't stop thinking about him.

Download Article

1. He'll be dying to know what's on your mind. He might even ask you to elaborate! To keep it super-subtle, say something like, "Just you and me together :)" and change the subject. If you want to get a little naughty, you could say something like:[14]
   • "Wondering what you would do if you were here..."
   • "How great you looked in that shirt last night"
   • "Just remembering that time we were in the hot tub..."
   • "That I'd really like to be kissing you right now"

13

Mention that you just got out of the shower.

Download Article

1. This bold move will get him steamed up. You don't have to tell him that you've already changed into your yoga pants and oversized T-shirt. Let him think you're just lounging around undressed while the two of you chat. You might even mention you thought of him in the shower. It's definitely going to catch his interest![15]
   • Try saying something like, "I just took a shower and now I can't decide what to wear!" Or you could say, "Sorry I didn't answer right away. I was in the shower."
   • To really step up the teasing, send him a picture of yourself wrapped in a towel before you get dressed.
Advertisement

14

Tell him you dreamt about him.

Download Article

1. He'll probably assume your dream was something sexy. The great thing about telling him this is that even if you didn't really dream about him, you can totally make it up as you go along. He'll probably want to know more, so make it as cute, silly, or steamy as you want. But to really get his mind racing, leave the details to his imagination.[16]
   • Try saying, "We were on a beach and there were these people in boat costumes dancing on the sand. You looked super cute in those board shorts though."
   • You could also say, "It was so sweet. We were in this market and you were holding my hand the whole time, then you kissed me."
   • Or you might say, "Well, I'll just say it was really memorable..."

15

Bring up a sexy movie.

Download Article

1. Name something steamy so he'll know what's on your mind. Go for a classic that he's probably seen before, like Eyes Wide Shut, 9 1/2 Weeks, or Mr. & Mrs. Smith. Chances are, if he's seen it before, he'll start thinking about recreating some of those scenes with you. This can work with TV shows and songs, too.
   • Anything that airs on HBO is probably a pretty good start.
   • Or, quote some sexy song lyrics—then say something like, "I love this song!"[17]
Advertisement

Examples to Tease a Guy

Sample Examples to Tease a Guy

Expert Q&A

Search Add New Question Ask a Question 200 characters left Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. Submit Advertisement

Video

Tips

Submit a Tip All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published Name Please provide your name and last initial Submit Thanks for submitting a tip for review!

You Might Also Like

How toFlirt with a Guy over Text How toRespond to a Flirty Text from a Guy How toSend a Casual Text to a Guy How to Innocently Flirt with a Guy over Text (Lowkey Ways to Flirt) How to Drop Hints to a Guy You Like & Get Him to Ask You Out How toSubtly Flirt with a Guy Online How toGet Attention from a Guy over Text How toMake a Guy Chase You over Text 40+ Sweet & Flirty Texts to Make Him Lose His Mind Turning Him on with Intimate Texts: Your Complete Guide How toText a Guy You Like 12 Ways to Make Him Miss You & Want You over Text 11 Subtle Flirty Texts to Intrigue Your Crush How to Make a Guy Text You Every Day Advertisement

References

1. ↑ John Keegan. Dating Coach. Expert Interview
2. ↑ Collette Gee. Dating Coach. Expert Interview
3. ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/basics/flirting
4. ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/evolution-of-the-self/201210/flirt-vs-tease-whats-the-difference
5. ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/between-you-and-me/201204/four-ways-to-keep-your-relationship-alive
6. ↑ John Keegan. Dating Coach. Expert Interview
7. ↑ https://www.helpguide.org/relationships/communication/managing-conflicts-with-humor
8. ↑ Collette Gee. Dating Coach. Expert Interview
9. ↑ John Keegan. Dating Coach. Expert Interview

More References (8)

10. ↑ Collette Gee. Dating Coach. Expert Interview
11. ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/hide-and-seek/201405/the-very-best-psychology-jokes
12. ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/love-digitally/201601/what-your-sexting-really-reveals
13. ↑ https://psychcentral.com/relationships/ways-to-increase-intimacy-and-communication-with-an-avoidant-partner
14. ↑ https://psychcentral.com/relationships/ways-to-increase-intimacy-and-communication-with-an-avoidant-partner
15. ↑ https://www.scientificamerican.com/blog/anthropology-in-practice/the-psychology-of-sexting/
16. ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/love-digitally/201806/why-do-we-flirt-text
17. ↑ https://psychcentral.com/blog/how-watching-movies-can-benefit-our-mental-health

About This Article

Written by: Collette Gee Dating Coach This article was written by Collette Gee and by wikiHow staff writer, Amy Bobinger, BA. Collette Gee is a Relationship Coach, Certified Violence Prevention Specialist, the Author of "Finding Happily… No Rules, No Frogs, No Pretending." Focusing on creating meaningful romantic relationships, Collette uses her experience having worked in the mental health industry as a psych nurse to conduct relationship coaching, online courses, and workshops to help women and men find lasting love. Prior to Collette's coaching business, she worked in the mental health field as a psych nurse which has helped inform her practice to create and sustain happy, healthy meaningful romantic relationships. Her work has been featured on TLC, London Live, the Huffington Post, and CNN. This article has been viewed 378,157 times. 29 votes - 74% Co-authors: 12 Updated: January 2, 2026 Views: 378,157 Categories: Flirting In other languages Spanish Portuguese German French Dutch Vietnamese Indonesian Turkish Czech Japanese Italian

• Print
• Send fan mail to authors

Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 378,157 times.

Did this article help you?

Yes No Advertisement Cookies make wikiHow better. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Written by: Collette Gee Dating Coach 29 votes - 74% Click a star to vote Co-authors: 12 Updated: January 2, 2026 Views: 378,157

Quizzes & Games

Do I Like Him QuizTake QuizAm I Good at Flirting QuizTake QuizHow Much Do I Like Him QuizTake QuizShould I Text Him or Not QuizTake QuizDoes He Like Me QuizTake QuizCraft the Perfect Reply to Any TextGenerate

You Might Also Like

How toFlirt with a Guy over TextHow toRespond to a Flirty Text from a GuyHow toSend a Casual Text to a GuyHow to Innocently Flirt with a Guy over Text (Lowkey Ways to Flirt)

Featured Articles

How toRemove Shorts from Search Results on YouTubeWhat Are the Korean Animal Face Types? (And Which Type Do You Have?)Being the Little Spoon While Cuddling: Is It Better Than the Big Spoon?115+ Funny “Get Well Soon” Messages to Make Someone Laugh110+ “Fun Facts” for Interviews, Introductions, & IcebreakersHow Long Would You Survive In A Zombie Apocalypse?

Trending Articles

Am I Chopped QuizCrush Calculator: Does Your Crush Like You Back?What Does “Eat Zucchini” From KATSEYE Mean?How Rare Is My Birthday QuizAm I a Pick Me Girl QuizWhat Is the I Found a Leaf Relationship Test on TikTok?

Featured Articles

How to Roast Someone in a Rap Battle (Plus the Best Bars of All Time)What Turns a Girl On? 31 Things to Try on Your PartnerLove AnalyzerSending Your Sweetie a Love Note? Here are 200+ Romantic IdeasHow toExercise Your BrainHow toBe a Fun Person to Hang out With

Featured Articles

What Does Your Morning Routine Say About You?How toDevelop Productive HabitsHow toPractice Self CareWhat Song Matches Your Life Right Now?Will 2026 Be Your Year? Reveal Your FutureUnderstanding the Most Attractive Face Shapes (& Determining Your Own)

Watch Articles

How toIron PantsHow toCut LimesHow to Make Your Own Comforting Cinnamon TeaHow toDraw 3D ShapesHow toMake a Sugar ScrubHow to Wear a Scarf: 19 Different Styles

Trending Articles

Rank My Attractiveness QuizChildhood Trauma TestAm I Neurotypical or Neurodivergent QuizGuess My Deepest Secret QuizWhat's My Personality Based on My Song Choices QuizGuess My Age Quiz

Quizzes & Games

Is He Interested In Me QuizTake QuizIs a Guy You Don't Know Well Interested in You?Take QuizRizz Line GeneratorGenerateWhat Does My Crush Think of Me QuizTake QuizRizz Game: Test Your RizzTake QuizAttraction TestTake Quiz

• Categories
• Relationships
• Dating
• Getting a Date
• Flirting

wikiHow Newsletter You're all set! Helpful how-tos delivered toyour inbox every week! Sign me up! By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy.

• Home
• About wikiHow
• Experts
• Jobs
• Contact Us
• Site Map
• Terms of Use
• Privacy Policy
• Do Not Sell or Share My Info
• Not Selling Info
• Contribute

Follow Us

×

Get wikiHow's expert advice in our new

Weekly Relationships Newsletter

Subscribe The first issue is coming soon! X --573