diff --git a/changelog/4435.deprecation.rst b/changelog/4435.deprecation.rst
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..f12f0bc6c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelog/4435.deprecation.rst
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+Deprecate ``raises(..., 'code(as_a_string)')`` and ``warns(..., 'code(as_a_string)')``.  See https://docs.pytest.org/en/latest/deprecations.html#raises-warns-exec
diff --git a/doc/en/assert.rst b/doc/en/assert.rst
index 43fedebed..b13a071f6 100644
--- a/doc/en/assert.rst
+++ b/doc/en/assert.rst
@@ -100,10 +100,9 @@ If you want to write test code that works on Python 2.4 as well,
 you may also use two other ways to test for an expected exception::
 
     pytest.raises(ExpectedException, func, *args, **kwargs)
-    pytest.raises(ExpectedException, "func(*args, **kwargs)")
 
-both of which execute the specified function with args and kwargs and
-asserts that the given ``ExpectedException`` is raised.  The reporter will
+which will execute the specified function with args and kwargs and
+assert that the given ``ExpectedException`` is raised.  The reporter will
 provide you with helpful output in case of failures such as *no
 exception* or *wrong exception*.
 
diff --git a/doc/en/deprecations.rst b/doc/en/deprecations.rst
index 3398c92a2..414e2e3f3 100644
--- a/doc/en/deprecations.rst
+++ b/doc/en/deprecations.rst
@@ -14,6 +14,41 @@ Below is a complete list of all pytest features which are considered deprecated.
 :class:`_pytest.warning_types.PytestWarning` or subclasses, which can be filtered using
 :ref:`standard warning filters <warnings>`.
 
+.. _raises-warns-exec:
+
+``raises`` / ``warns`` with a string as the second argument
+~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
+
+.. deprecated:: 4.1
+
+Use the context manager form of these instead.  When necessary, invoke ``exec``
+directly.
+
+Example:
+
+.. code-block:: python
+
+    pytest.raises(ZeroDivisionError, "1 / 0")
+    pytest.raises(SyntaxError, "a $ b")
+
+    pytest.warns(DeprecationWarning, "my_function()")
+    pytest.warns(SyntaxWarning, "assert(1, 2)")
+
+Becomes:
+
+.. code-block:: python
+
+    with pytest.raises(ZeroDivisionError):
+        1 / 0
+    with pytest.raises(SyntaxError):
+        exec("a $ b")  # exec is required for invalid syntax
+
+    with pytest.warns(DeprecationWarning):
+        my_function()
+    with pytest.warns(SyntaxWarning):
+        exec("assert(1, 2)")  # exec is used to avoid a top-level warning
+
+
 Internal classes accessed through ``Node``
 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 
diff --git a/doc/en/example/assertion/failure_demo.py b/doc/en/example/assertion/failure_demo.py
index 5bd95a37b..31a9f2577 100644
--- a/doc/en/example/assertion/failure_demo.py
+++ b/doc/en/example/assertion/failure_demo.py
@@ -165,11 +165,11 @@ def globf(x):
 
 class TestRaises(object):
     def test_raises(self):
-        s = "qwe"  # NOQA
-        raises(TypeError, "int(s)")
+        s = "qwe"
+        raises(TypeError, int, s)
 
     def test_raises_doesnt(self):
-        raises(IOError, "int('3')")
+        raises(IOError, int, "3")
 
     def test_raise(self):
         raise ValueError("demo error")
diff --git a/doc/en/example/parametrize.rst b/doc/en/example/parametrize.rst
index 488f6e310..bb8ea5996 100644
--- a/doc/en/example/parametrize.rst
+++ b/doc/en/example/parametrize.rst
@@ -388,7 +388,8 @@ parametrizer`_ but in a lot less code::
             assert a == b
 
         def test_zerodivision(self, a, b):
-            pytest.raises(ZeroDivisionError, "a/b")
+            with pytest.raises(ZeroDivisionError):
+                a / b
 
 Our test generator looks up a class-level definition which specifies which
 argument sets to use for each test function.  Let's run it:
diff --git a/src/_pytest/deprecated.py b/src/_pytest/deprecated.py
index a34366280..ce3b91802 100644
--- a/src/_pytest/deprecated.py
+++ b/src/_pytest/deprecated.py
@@ -92,6 +92,15 @@ NODE_WARN = RemovedInPytest4Warning(
     "Node.warn(code, message) form has been deprecated, use Node.warn(warning_instance) instead."
 )
 
+RAISES_EXEC = PytestDeprecationWarning(
+    "raises(..., 'code(as_a_string)') is deprecated, use the context manager form or use `exec()` directly\n\n"
+    "See https://docs.pytest.org/en/latest/deprecations.html#raises-warns-exec"
+)
+WARNS_EXEC = PytestDeprecationWarning(
+    "warns(..., 'code(as_a_string)') is deprecated, use the context manager form or use `exec()` directly.\n\n"
+    "See https://docs.pytest.org/en/latest/deprecations.html#raises-warns-exec"
+)
+
 RECORD_XML_PROPERTY = RemovedInPytest4Warning(
     'Fixture renamed from "record_xml_property" to "record_property" as user '
     "properties are now available to all reporters.\n"
diff --git a/src/_pytest/python_api.py b/src/_pytest/python_api.py
index e9cc2bbde..7e5dc74a8 100644
--- a/src/_pytest/python_api.py
+++ b/src/_pytest/python_api.py
@@ -1,6 +1,9 @@
+from __future__ import absolute_import
+
 import math
 import pprint
 import sys
+import warnings
 from decimal import Decimal
 from numbers import Number
 
@@ -14,6 +17,7 @@ from _pytest.compat import isclass
 from _pytest.compat import Mapping
 from _pytest.compat import Sequence
 from _pytest.compat import STRING_TYPES
+from _pytest.deprecated import RAISES_EXEC
 from _pytest.outcomes import fail
 
 BASE_TYPE = (type, STRING_TYPES)
@@ -604,9 +608,9 @@ def raises(expected_exception, *args, **kwargs):
         >>> with raises(ValueError, match=r'must be \d+$'):
         ...     raise ValueError("value must be 42")
 
-    **Legacy forms**
+    **Legacy form**
 
-    The forms below are fully supported but are discouraged for new code because the
+    The form below is fully supported but discouraged for new code because the
     context manager form is regarded as more readable and less error-prone.
 
     It is possible to specify a callable by passing a to-be-called lambda::
@@ -623,14 +627,6 @@ def raises(expected_exception, *args, **kwargs):
         >>> raises(ZeroDivisionError, f, x=0)
         <ExceptionInfo ...>
 
-    It is also possible to pass a string to be evaluated at runtime::
-
-        >>> raises(ZeroDivisionError, "f(0)")
-        <ExceptionInfo ...>
-
-    The string will be evaluated using the same ``locals()`` and ``globals()``
-    at the moment of the ``raises`` call.
-
     .. currentmodule:: _pytest._code
 
     Consult the API of ``excinfo`` objects: :class:`ExceptionInfo`.
@@ -672,6 +668,7 @@ def raises(expected_exception, *args, **kwargs):
             raise TypeError(msg)
         return RaisesContext(expected_exception, message, match_expr)
     elif isinstance(args[0], str):
+        warnings.warn(RAISES_EXEC, stacklevel=2)
         code, = args
         assert isinstance(code, str)
         frame = sys._getframe(1)
diff --git a/src/_pytest/recwarn.py b/src/_pytest/recwarn.py
index 4f3ab7f29..f39f7aee7 100644
--- a/src/_pytest/recwarn.py
+++ b/src/_pytest/recwarn.py
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ import warnings
 import six
 
 import _pytest._code
+from _pytest.deprecated import WARNS_EXEC
 from _pytest.fixtures import yield_fixture
 from _pytest.outcomes import fail
 
@@ -89,6 +90,7 @@ def warns(expected_warning, *args, **kwargs):
             match_expr = kwargs.pop("match")
         return WarningsChecker(expected_warning, match_expr=match_expr)
     elif isinstance(args[0], str):
+        warnings.warn(WARNS_EXEC, stacklevel=2)
         code, = args
         assert isinstance(code, str)
         frame = sys._getframe(1)
diff --git a/testing/code/test_code.py b/testing/code/test_code.py
index df9f109ef..3362d4604 100644
--- a/testing/code/test_code.py
+++ b/testing/code/test_code.py
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ def test_code_with_class():
     class A(object):
         pass
 
-    pytest.raises(TypeError, "_pytest._code.Code(A)")
+    pytest.raises(TypeError, _pytest._code.Code, A)
 
 
 def x():
diff --git a/testing/code/test_excinfo.py b/testing/code/test_excinfo.py
index b4d64313c..4e36fb946 100644
--- a/testing/code/test_excinfo.py
+++ b/testing/code/test_excinfo.py
@@ -180,7 +180,8 @@ class TestTraceback_f_g_h(object):
 
     def test_traceback_cut_excludepath(self, testdir):
         p = testdir.makepyfile("def f(): raise ValueError")
-        excinfo = pytest.raises(ValueError, "p.pyimport().f()")
+        with pytest.raises(ValueError) as excinfo:
+            p.pyimport().f()
         basedir = py.path.local(pytest.__file__).dirpath()
         newtraceback = excinfo.traceback.cut(excludepath=basedir)
         for x in newtraceback:
@@ -336,7 +337,8 @@ class TestTraceback_f_g_h(object):
 def test_excinfo_exconly():
     excinfo = pytest.raises(ValueError, h)
     assert excinfo.exconly().startswith("ValueError")
-    excinfo = pytest.raises(ValueError, "raise ValueError('hello\\nworld')")
+    with pytest.raises(ValueError) as excinfo:
+        raise ValueError("hello\nworld")
     msg = excinfo.exconly(tryshort=True)
     assert msg.startswith("ValueError")
     assert msg.endswith("world")
diff --git a/testing/code/test_source.py b/testing/code/test_source.py
index 3ee46c1b8..0103acb70 100644
--- a/testing/code/test_source.py
+++ b/testing/code/test_source.py
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ from __future__ import absolute_import
 from __future__ import division
 from __future__ import print_function
 
+import ast
 import inspect
 import sys
 
@@ -14,7 +15,6 @@ import six
 import _pytest._code
 import pytest
 from _pytest._code import Source
-from _pytest._code.source import ast
 
 
 astonly = pytest.mark.nothing
@@ -306,8 +306,6 @@ class TestSourceParsingAndCompiling(object):
         pytest.raises(SyntaxError, lambda: source.getstatementrange(0))
 
     def test_compile_to_ast(self):
-        import ast
-
         source = Source("x = 4")
         mod = source.compile(flag=ast.PyCF_ONLY_AST)
         assert isinstance(mod, ast.Module)
@@ -317,10 +315,9 @@ class TestSourceParsingAndCompiling(object):
         co = self.source.compile()
         six.exec_(co, globals())
         f(7)
-        excinfo = pytest.raises(AssertionError, "f(6)")
+        excinfo = pytest.raises(AssertionError, f, 6)
         frame = excinfo.traceback[-1].frame
         stmt = frame.code.fullsource.getstatement(frame.lineno)
-        # print "block", str(block)
         assert str(stmt).strip().startswith("assert")
 
     @pytest.mark.parametrize("name", ["", None, "my"])
@@ -361,17 +358,13 @@ def test_getline_finally():
     def c():
         pass
 
-    excinfo = pytest.raises(
-        TypeError,
-        """
-           teardown = None
-           try:
-                c(1)
-           finally:
-                if teardown:
-                    teardown()
-    """,
-    )
+    with pytest.raises(TypeError) as excinfo:
+        teardown = None
+        try:
+            c(1)
+        finally:
+            if teardown:
+                teardown()
     source = excinfo.traceback[-1].statement
     assert str(source).strip() == "c(1)"
 
diff --git a/testing/example_scripts/fixtures/fill_fixtures/test_conftest_funcargs_only_available_in_subdir/sub2/conftest.py b/testing/example_scripts/fixtures/fill_fixtures/test_conftest_funcargs_only_available_in_subdir/sub2/conftest.py
index c37045454..00981c5dc 100644
--- a/testing/example_scripts/fixtures/fill_fixtures/test_conftest_funcargs_only_available_in_subdir/sub2/conftest.py
+++ b/testing/example_scripts/fixtures/fill_fixtures/test_conftest_funcargs_only_available_in_subdir/sub2/conftest.py
@@ -3,4 +3,4 @@ import pytest
 
 @pytest.fixture
 def arg2(request):
-    pytest.raises(Exception, "request.getfixturevalue('arg1')")
+    pytest.raises(Exception, request.getfixturevalue, "arg1")
diff --git a/testing/python/collect.py b/testing/python/collect.py
index 4ce3d120d..83fcdc3bd 100644
--- a/testing/python/collect.py
+++ b/testing/python/collect.py
@@ -325,7 +325,7 @@ class TestGenerator(object):
         assert len(colitems) == 1
         gencol = colitems[0]
         assert isinstance(gencol, pytest.Generator)
-        pytest.raises(ValueError, "gencol.collect()")
+        pytest.raises(ValueError, gencol.collect)
 
     def test_generative_methods_with_explicit_names(self, testdir):
         modcol = testdir.getmodulecol(
@@ -1103,7 +1103,8 @@ def test_modulecol_roundtrip(testdir):
 
 class TestTracebackCutting(object):
     def test_skip_simple(self):
-        excinfo = pytest.raises(pytest.skip.Exception, 'pytest.skip("xxx")')
+        with pytest.raises(pytest.skip.Exception) as excinfo:
+            pytest.skip("xxx")
         assert excinfo.traceback[-1].frame.code.name == "skip"
         assert excinfo.traceback[-1].ishidden()
 
diff --git a/testing/python/fixture.py b/testing/python/fixture.py
index 86cd29724..b7ce16eb5 100644
--- a/testing/python/fixture.py
+++ b/testing/python/fixture.py
@@ -906,7 +906,8 @@ class TestRequestMarking(object):
         assert "skipif" not in item1.keywords
         req1.applymarker(pytest.mark.skipif)
         assert "skipif" in item1.keywords
-        pytest.raises(ValueError, "req1.applymarker(42)")
+        with pytest.raises(ValueError):
+            req1.applymarker(42)
 
     def test_accesskeywords(self, testdir):
         testdir.makepyfile(
diff --git a/testing/python/metafunc.py b/testing/python/metafunc.py
index 243d50d2d..833eb5641 100644
--- a/testing/python/metafunc.py
+++ b/testing/python/metafunc.py
@@ -70,11 +70,11 @@ class TestMetafunc(object):
             pass
 
         metafunc = self.Metafunc(func)
-        pytest.raises(ValueError, "metafunc.addcall(id=None)")
+        pytest.raises(ValueError, metafunc.addcall, id=None)
 
         metafunc.addcall(id=1)
-        pytest.raises(ValueError, "metafunc.addcall(id=1)")
-        pytest.raises(ValueError, "metafunc.addcall(id='1')")
+        pytest.raises(ValueError, metafunc.addcall, id=1)
+        pytest.raises(ValueError, metafunc.addcall, id="1")
         metafunc.addcall(id=2)
         assert len(metafunc._calls) == 2
         assert metafunc._calls[0].id == "1"
@@ -108,7 +108,7 @@ class TestMetafunc(object):
 
         metafunc.addcall(funcargs={"x": 2})
         metafunc.addcall(funcargs={"x": 3})
-        pytest.raises(pytest.fail.Exception, "metafunc.addcall({'xyz': 0})")
+        pytest.raises(pytest.fail.Exception, metafunc.addcall, {"xyz": 0})
         assert len(metafunc._calls) == 2
         assert metafunc._calls[0].funcargs == {"x": 2}
         assert metafunc._calls[1].funcargs == {"x": 3}
diff --git a/testing/python/raises.py b/testing/python/raises.py
index 6ca19c677..e3a0c4a05 100644
--- a/testing/python/raises.py
+++ b/testing/python/raises.py
@@ -4,25 +4,32 @@ import six
 
 import pytest
 from _pytest.outcomes import Failed
+from _pytest.warning_types import PytestDeprecationWarning
 
 
 class TestRaises(object):
     def test_raises(self):
         source = "int('qwe')"
-        excinfo = pytest.raises(ValueError, source)
+        with pytest.warns(PytestDeprecationWarning):
+            excinfo = pytest.raises(ValueError, source)
         code = excinfo.traceback[-1].frame.code
         s = str(code.fullsource)
         assert s == source
 
     def test_raises_exec(self):
-        pytest.raises(ValueError, "a,x = []")
+        with pytest.warns(PytestDeprecationWarning) as warninfo:
+            pytest.raises(ValueError, "a,x = []")
+        assert warninfo[0].filename == __file__
 
     def test_raises_exec_correct_filename(self):
-        excinfo = pytest.raises(ValueError, 'int("s")')
-        assert __file__ in excinfo.traceback[-1].path
+        with pytest.warns(PytestDeprecationWarning):
+            excinfo = pytest.raises(ValueError, 'int("s")')
+            assert __file__ in excinfo.traceback[-1].path
 
     def test_raises_syntax_error(self):
-        pytest.raises(SyntaxError, "qwe qwe qwe")
+        with pytest.warns(PytestDeprecationWarning) as warninfo:
+            pytest.raises(SyntaxError, "qwe qwe qwe")
+        assert warninfo[0].filename == __file__
 
     def test_raises_function(self):
         pytest.raises(ValueError, int, "hello")
diff --git a/testing/test_capture.py b/testing/test_capture.py
index 47aba70d4..17bb82967 100644
--- a/testing/test_capture.py
+++ b/testing/test_capture.py
@@ -87,7 +87,7 @@ class TestCaptureManager(object):
         try:
             capman = CaptureManager("fd")
             capman.start_global_capturing()
-            pytest.raises(AssertionError, "capman.start_global_capturing()")
+            pytest.raises(AssertionError, capman.start_global_capturing)
             capman.stop_global_capturing()
         finally:
             capouter.stop_capturing()
@@ -798,10 +798,10 @@ class TestCaptureIO(object):
         f = capture.CaptureIO()
         if sys.version_info >= (3, 0):
             f.write("\u00f6")
-            pytest.raises(TypeError, "f.write(bytes('hello', 'UTF-8'))")
+            pytest.raises(TypeError, f.write, b"hello")
         else:
-            f.write(text_type("\u00f6", "UTF-8"))
-            f.write("hello")  # bytes
+            f.write(u"\u00f6")
+            f.write(b"hello")
             s = f.getvalue()
             f.close()
             assert isinstance(s, text_type)
@@ -1149,7 +1149,7 @@ class TestStdCapture(object):
         print("XXX which indicates an error in the underlying capturing")
         print("XXX mechanisms")
         with self.getcapture():
-            pytest.raises(IOError, "sys.stdin.read()")
+            pytest.raises(IOError, sys.stdin.read)
 
 
 class TestStdCaptureFD(TestStdCapture):
diff --git a/testing/test_config.py b/testing/test_config.py
index 605d28aa0..fcb886d53 100644
--- a/testing/test_config.py
+++ b/testing/test_config.py
@@ -194,7 +194,7 @@ class TestConfigAPI(object):
         config = testdir.parseconfig("--hello=this")
         for x in ("hello", "--hello", "-X"):
             assert config.getoption(x) == "this"
-        pytest.raises(ValueError, "config.getoption('qweqwe')")
+        pytest.raises(ValueError, config.getoption, "qweqwe")
 
     @pytest.mark.skipif("sys.version_info[0] < 3")
     def test_config_getoption_unicode(self, testdir):
@@ -211,7 +211,7 @@ class TestConfigAPI(object):
 
     def test_config_getvalueorskip(self, testdir):
         config = testdir.parseconfig()
-        pytest.raises(pytest.skip.Exception, "config.getvalueorskip('hello')")
+        pytest.raises(pytest.skip.Exception, config.getvalueorskip, "hello")
         verbose = config.getvalueorskip("verbose")
         assert verbose == config.option.verbose
 
@@ -723,7 +723,8 @@ def test_config_in_subdirectory_colon_command_line_issue2148(testdir):
 
 def test_notify_exception(testdir, capfd):
     config = testdir.parseconfig()
-    excinfo = pytest.raises(ValueError, "raise ValueError(1)")
+    with pytest.raises(ValueError) as excinfo:
+        raise ValueError(1)
     config.notify_exception(excinfo)
     out, err = capfd.readouterr()
     assert "ValueError" in err
diff --git a/testing/test_monkeypatch.py b/testing/test_monkeypatch.py
index ebc233fbf..9e44b4975 100644
--- a/testing/test_monkeypatch.py
+++ b/testing/test_monkeypatch.py
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ def test_setattr():
         x = 1
 
     monkeypatch = MonkeyPatch()
-    pytest.raises(AttributeError, "monkeypatch.setattr(A, 'notexists', 2)")
+    pytest.raises(AttributeError, monkeypatch.setattr, A, "notexists", 2)
     monkeypatch.setattr(A, "y", 2, raising=False)
     assert A.y == 2
     monkeypatch.undo()
@@ -99,7 +99,7 @@ def test_delattr():
 
     monkeypatch = MonkeyPatch()
     monkeypatch.delattr(A, "x")
-    pytest.raises(AttributeError, "monkeypatch.delattr(A, 'y')")
+    pytest.raises(AttributeError, monkeypatch.delattr, A, "y")
     monkeypatch.delattr(A, "y", raising=False)
     monkeypatch.setattr(A, "x", 5, raising=False)
     assert A.x == 5
@@ -156,7 +156,7 @@ def test_delitem():
     monkeypatch.delitem(d, "x")
     assert "x" not in d
     monkeypatch.delitem(d, "y", raising=False)
-    pytest.raises(KeyError, "monkeypatch.delitem(d, 'y')")
+    pytest.raises(KeyError, monkeypatch.delitem, d, "y")
     assert not d
     monkeypatch.setitem(d, "y", 1700)
     assert d["y"] == 1700
@@ -182,7 +182,7 @@ def test_delenv():
     name = "xyz1234"
     assert name not in os.environ
     monkeypatch = MonkeyPatch()
-    pytest.raises(KeyError, "monkeypatch.delenv(%r, raising=True)" % name)
+    pytest.raises(KeyError, monkeypatch.delenv, name, raising=True)
     monkeypatch.delenv(name, raising=False)
     monkeypatch.undo()
     os.environ[name] = "1"
diff --git a/testing/test_parseopt.py b/testing/test_parseopt.py
index 0dafa248b..3048c96bd 100644
--- a/testing/test_parseopt.py
+++ b/testing/test_parseopt.py
@@ -100,12 +100,8 @@ class TestParser(object):
 
     def test_group_shortopt_lowercase(self, parser):
         group = parser.getgroup("hello")
-        pytest.raises(
-            ValueError,
-            """
+        with pytest.raises(ValueError):
             group.addoption("-x", action="store_true")
-        """,
-        )
         assert len(group.options) == 0
         group._addoption("-x", action="store_true")
         assert len(group.options) == 1
diff --git a/testing/test_pluginmanager.py b/testing/test_pluginmanager.py
index 64d05d383..6137b2771 100644
--- a/testing/test_pluginmanager.py
+++ b/testing/test_pluginmanager.py
@@ -196,7 +196,7 @@ class TestPytestPluginManager(object):
         assert pm.is_registered(mod)
         values = pm.get_plugins()
         assert mod in values
-        pytest.raises(ValueError, "pm.register(mod)")
+        pytest.raises(ValueError, pm.register, mod)
         pytest.raises(ValueError, lambda: pm.register(mod))
         # assert not pm.is_registered(mod2)
         assert pm.get_plugins() == values
@@ -284,8 +284,8 @@ class TestPytestPluginManager(object):
         result.stdout.fnmatch_lines(["*1 passed*"])
 
     def test_import_plugin_importname(self, testdir, pytestpm):
-        pytest.raises(ImportError, 'pytestpm.import_plugin("qweqwex.y")')
-        pytest.raises(ImportError, 'pytestpm.import_plugin("pytest_qweqwx.y")')
+        pytest.raises(ImportError, pytestpm.import_plugin, "qweqwex.y")
+        pytest.raises(ImportError, pytestpm.import_plugin, "pytest_qweqwx.y")
 
         testdir.syspathinsert()
         pluginname = "pytest_hello"
@@ -301,8 +301,8 @@ class TestPytestPluginManager(object):
         assert plugin2 is plugin1
 
     def test_import_plugin_dotted_name(self, testdir, pytestpm):
-        pytest.raises(ImportError, 'pytestpm.import_plugin("qweqwex.y")')
-        pytest.raises(ImportError, 'pytestpm.import_plugin("pytest_qweqwex.y")')
+        pytest.raises(ImportError, pytestpm.import_plugin, "qweqwex.y")
+        pytest.raises(ImportError, pytestpm.import_plugin, "pytest_qweqwex.y")
 
         testdir.syspathinsert()
         testdir.mkpydir("pkg").join("plug.py").write("x=3")
diff --git a/testing/test_pytester.py b/testing/test_pytester.py
index 0c28bc91b..669da6e17 100644
--- a/testing/test_pytester.py
+++ b/testing/test_pytester.py
@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@ def test_make_hook_recorder(testdir):
     recorder.unregister()
     recorder.clear()
     recorder.hook.pytest_runtest_logreport(report=rep)
-    pytest.raises(ValueError, "recorder.getfailures()")
+    pytest.raises(ValueError, recorder.getfailures)
 
 
 def test_parseconfig(testdir):
@@ -174,7 +174,7 @@ def test_hookrecorder_basic(holder):
     call = rec.popcall("pytest_xyz")
     assert call.arg == 123
     assert call._name == "pytest_xyz"
-    pytest.raises(pytest.fail.Exception, "rec.popcall('abc')")
+    pytest.raises(pytest.fail.Exception, rec.popcall, "abc")
     pm.hook.pytest_xyz_noarg()
     call = rec.popcall("pytest_xyz_noarg")
     assert call._name == "pytest_xyz_noarg"
diff --git a/testing/test_recwarn.py b/testing/test_recwarn.py
index 223521a5e..9bf6a2ffb 100644
--- a/testing/test_recwarn.py
+++ b/testing/test_recwarn.py
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ import warnings
 
 import pytest
 from _pytest.recwarn import WarningsRecorder
+from _pytest.warning_types import PytestDeprecationWarning
 
 
 def test_recwarn_stacklevel(recwarn):
@@ -44,7 +45,7 @@ class TestWarningsRecorderChecker(object):
             rec.clear()
             assert len(rec.list) == 0
             assert values is rec.list
-            pytest.raises(AssertionError, "rec.pop()")
+            pytest.raises(AssertionError, rec.pop)
 
     @pytest.mark.issue(4243)
     def test_warn_stacklevel(self):
@@ -214,9 +215,17 @@ class TestWarns(object):
         source1 = "warnings.warn('w1', RuntimeWarning)"
         source2 = "warnings.warn('w2', RuntimeWarning)"
         source3 = "warnings.warn('w3', RuntimeWarning)"
-        pytest.warns(RuntimeWarning, source1)
-        pytest.raises(pytest.fail.Exception, lambda: pytest.warns(UserWarning, source2))
-        pytest.warns(RuntimeWarning, source3)
+        with pytest.warns(PytestDeprecationWarning) as warninfo:  # yo dawg
+            pytest.warns(RuntimeWarning, source1)
+            pytest.raises(
+                pytest.fail.Exception, lambda: pytest.warns(UserWarning, source2)
+            )
+            pytest.warns(RuntimeWarning, source3)
+        assert len(warninfo) == 3
+        for w in warninfo:
+            assert w.filename == __file__
+            msg, = w.message.args
+            assert msg.startswith("warns(..., 'code(as_a_string)') is deprecated")
 
     def test_function(self):
         pytest.warns(
diff --git a/testing/test_runner.py b/testing/test_runner.py
index 2d047af70..d76f3da9b 100644
--- a/testing/test_runner.py
+++ b/testing/test_runner.py
@@ -700,17 +700,13 @@ def test_importorskip(monkeypatch):
         # check that importorskip reports the actual call
         # in this test the test_runner.py file
         assert path.purebasename == "test_runner"
-        pytest.raises(SyntaxError, "pytest.importorskip('x y z')")
-        pytest.raises(SyntaxError, "pytest.importorskip('x=y')")
+        pytest.raises(SyntaxError, pytest.importorskip, "x y z")
+        pytest.raises(SyntaxError, pytest.importorskip, "x=y")
         mod = types.ModuleType("hello123")
         mod.__version__ = "1.3"
         monkeypatch.setitem(sys.modules, "hello123", mod)
-        pytest.raises(
-            pytest.skip.Exception,
-            """
+        with pytest.raises(pytest.skip.Exception):
             pytest.importorskip("hello123", minversion="1.3.1")
-        """,
-        )
         mod2 = pytest.importorskip("hello123", minversion="1.3")
         assert mod2 == mod
     except pytest.skip.Exception:
@@ -730,11 +726,8 @@ def test_importorskip_dev_module(monkeypatch):
         monkeypatch.setitem(sys.modules, "mockmodule", mod)
         mod2 = pytest.importorskip("mockmodule", minversion="0.12.0")
         assert mod2 == mod
-        pytest.raises(
-            pytest.skip.Exception,
-            """
-            pytest.importorskip('mockmodule1', minversion='0.14.0')""",
-        )
+        with pytest.raises(pytest.skip.Exception):
+            pytest.importorskip("mockmodule1", minversion="0.14.0")
     except pytest.skip.Exception:
         print(_pytest._code.ExceptionInfo.from_current())
         pytest.fail("spurious skip")
diff --git a/testing/test_session.py b/testing/test_session.py
index 0dc98a703..32d71a18e 100644
--- a/testing/test_session.py
+++ b/testing/test_session.py
@@ -243,12 +243,8 @@ class TestNewSession(SessionTests):
 
 
 def test_plugin_specify(testdir):
-    pytest.raises(
-        ImportError,
-        """
-            testdir.parseconfig("-p", "nqweotexistent")
-    """,
-    )
+    with pytest.raises(ImportError):
+        testdir.parseconfig("-p", "nqweotexistent")
     # pytest.raises(ImportError,
     #    "config.do_configure(config)"
     # )
diff --git a/testing/test_terminal.py b/testing/test_terminal.py
index 60a64cdd6..0faf9b401 100644
--- a/testing/test_terminal.py
+++ b/testing/test_terminal.py
@@ -105,7 +105,8 @@ class TestTerminal(object):
     def test_internalerror(self, testdir, linecomp):
         modcol = testdir.getmodulecol("def test_one(): pass")
         rep = TerminalReporter(modcol.config, file=linecomp.stringio)
-        excinfo = pytest.raises(ValueError, "raise ValueError('hello')")
+        with pytest.raises(ValueError) as excinfo:
+            raise ValueError("hello")
         rep.pytest_internalerror(excinfo.getrepr())
         linecomp.assert_contains_lines(["INTERNALERROR> *ValueError*hello*"])