winding someone up

Related

teasingPlayful, mild ridicule
annoyingCausing mild irritation
provokingCausing a reaction
irritatingCausing mild frustration
windingCurving repeatedly, sinuous

clockwork · crank · tease · banter · ribbing · goading · needling · mischief · prank · joke · tension · spring · coil · mechanism · key · toy · taut · playful

Opposites

emotional effect

winding someone upde-escalating

Reducing intensity of conflict

tranquilizing · backing off

truthfulness (British sense)

winding someone uptelling the truth

being honest · no kidding

social energy direction

winding someone uppouring oil on troubled waters

Calming a dispute

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