friendly banter
1
2.8
- noun
- Informal
:
bromas amistosas
- The two comedians exchanged friendly banter that kept the audience laughing throughout the show.
Examples
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Like Sky, I’ve heard a lot of comments voiced as friendly banter regarding my cleanliness, and yet they still don’t make me laugh inside.
Blog text (14) -
My little woody dropped like a dead tree, and I exclaimed, "I mistook your friendly banter for a sexual come-on."
Fiction book (1997) -
Remember that was just for friendly banter... keep up the good work, Paul.
Blog text (28) -
And did no one see the comment when they said it was just friendly banter?
Blog text (19) -
Should I even attempt friendly banter with our rivals?
Blog text (3) -
For the sake of friendly banter only, I disagree a bit.
Blog text (28) -
A handshake, friendly banter, or a favorite product.
Blog text (32) -
I'm sure you didn't mean any harm, I'm sure it was just friendly banter.
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In the middle of the show, Mr. Markowitz stormed up on stage to engage in some friendly banter with the news anchor.
Blog text (12) -
Hansard was warm and witty throughout Wednesday night's show at The Moore, telling stories and exchanging friendly banter with the crowd.
Blog text (18)
Synonyms
87
3.5
Continuous talk about small things, often lively and noisy
65
2.1
Polite short talk about simple topics like the weather
28
2.0
Friendly, light talk about unimportant things
12
7.1
A short friendly talk between people
1
3.5
Friendly joking talk where people tease each other
1
2.3
A short informal talk to share or clear up something
1
9.9
Light playful talk that people use to make each other laugh
1
9.9
Light playful teasing talk that is not serious
1
8.4
A friendly relaxed chat between people, often over coffee
1
9.5
Light talk between people with little meaning
Playful friendly talk that makes people laugh without hurting anyone
A quick, funny talk where people tease each other playfully
Light joking talk between people to make each other laugh
Light informal chat between people to enjoy themselves
A friendly, informal talk about personal news
Light friendly talk about small unimportant things, often gossip
How Playful
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning 'light-hearted and informal conversation' is directly derivable from the adjective 'friendly' (kind, warm) modifying 'banter' (light-hearted teasing); the combined sense is a straightforward compositional adjective+noun construction. This pattern is cross-linguistically common and predictable, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents will readily understand the phrase.
Etymology
Friendly banter comes from the image of people playfully tossing short jokes back and forth, like passing a small ball. Here banter means a quick exchange of words and friendly shows it is kind, so friendly banter means light, 'teasing' talk that makes people laugh.