verb Internet Slang

Paperclipping

/ˈpeɪpərklɪpɪŋ/ · verb · slang

When an ex randomly resurfaces with a 'hey' just to remind you they exist, then vanishes again.

0

Definitions

1

The repeating, cyclical nature of the behavior, named after Clippy the Microsoft Word assistant who kept popping up uninvited.

“It's not breadcrumbing, it's full paperclipping, same loop every season.”
by community
0
2

A dating pattern where someone who ghosted you pops back up out of nowhere, sends a low-effort message, gets a reaction, then disappears all over again on a loop.

“She paperclipped me again, a 'heyyy' after three months of silence, then gone.”
by community
0
3

Used to describe the person who does it as much as the act itself.

“My number one paperclipping suspect just liked a photo from 2021.”
by community
0

Paperclipping In A Sentence

Got the 'I was just thinking about you' text. Bro is paperclipping.
He paperclips every few months like clockwork and I keep falling for it.
Don't reply, that's just him paperclipping you back into his rotation.

Origin & Usage

Coined in 2018 and named after Clippy, the persistent Microsoft Office paperclip assistant that kept reappearing. Popularised through dating media and meme accounts.

Variants PaperclipClippyPaperclipper
Tags #gen-z#dating#internet#ghosting#meme

People Also Ask

What does paperclipping mean in dating?

It's when someone who ghosted you cycles back with a small message just to revive contact, then ghosts again. The reference is Clippy the Office assistant who wouldn't stay gone.

How is paperclipping different from breadcrumbing?

Breadcrumbing is steady small attention to keep you hooked. Paperclipping is the same person vanishing and reappearing in a repeating cycle.

Why do people paperclip?

Often boredom, ego, or wanting to confirm you're still an option. It rarely means they actually want to commit.

Comments 0