Dating Slang
Dating slang decoded — situationship, ghosting, breadcrumbing and modern dating terms with real meanings and origins. Properly sourced.
231 words
The act of leaving an undefined relationship.
The red flag emoji — marks warning-sign behavior, especially in dating; spam it to flag something sketchy.
The scouting period before cuffing season when people size up prospects.
The unease of being in an undefined, label-less romance.
A sudden feeling of disgust toward someone you were attracted to, often triggered by something small.
Giving backhanded compliments to undermine someone's confidence.
An exceptionally, strikingly attractive person.
Feeling sexual attraction only after a strong emotional bond forms.
'Love of my life' — sincerely or ironically your ideal person.
A positive trait, behavior, or sign that suggests someone is trustworthy, healthy, or worth investing time in.
An extra person tagging along with a couple.
Turning down a date over lax pandemic safety precautions.
To reject someone on a dating app.
A mantra about staying detached, chasing travel and freedom instead of getting attached.
Firmly settled into a committed relationship.
To sever an app match, removing the ability to message.
The degree to which something triggers "the ick"
To successfully charm or flirt with someone
Someone who dates a person mainly for their money.
When a promising talking stage just loses energy and quietly dies on its own.
'Long-Term Relationship', a serious committed partnership.
Casually getting to know someone romantically before it's official.
Smoothly opening a private message, almost always with flirty intent.
A date that feels like a rapid-fire job interview.
Blowing someone off with a fake 'I have to study' excuse.
Mature content — open to view.
A fake date who covers for someone hiding that they're queer.
A warning sign specific to undefined, no-commitment romances.
The early phase of getting to know someone romantically, before you're officially together.
A soft-grunge online boy with chains, painted nails, dyed hair, and a terminally online vibe.
Liking someone's very old posts, revealing you've been scrolling far back.
Snubbing the person you're with by focusing on your phone.
A couple that evolves a situationship into a defined relationship.
The one you're closest and most devoted to.
Mature content — open to view.
An attractive person who makes many hearts race.
Mature content — open to view.
A relationship maintained mainly for social media clout.
Umbrella term for masculine-presenting — from soft masc to full butch.
A romantic option kept in reserve for later.