Beige Flag
A trait in a date that isn't a dealbreaker or a selling point, just oddly boring, quirky or mildly off in a way you can't stop noticing.
Benching
Benching is keeping someone interested as a backup option, with just enough contact to keep them around, while never actually choosing them.
Breadcrumbing
Breadcrumbing is sending just enough flirty or friendly messages to keep someone interested, with no real intention of dating them properly.
Caspering
The friendly version of ghosting: letting someone down gently with a kind message before you stop talking, rather than simply vanishing.
Catfishing
Catfishing is using fake photos and a false identity online to trick someone into a relationship, friendship or handing over money.
Cookie Jarring
Cookie jarring is keeping someone around as a sweet backup option while you focus your real attention on someone else you would rather be with.
Cuffing Season
Cuffing season is the autumn and winter stretch when single people feel a stronger pull to couple up, at least until the weather warms up again.
Curving
Curving is turning someone down softly and indirectly, giving vague or delayed replies instead of a clear no so the interest quietly fizzles out.
Cushioning
Keeping one or more backup romantic options on the go while in a relationship, so there's a soft landing if things end.
Delulu
Delulu is short for delusional, used playfully to describe wildly optimistic hopes about a crush or relationship.
Dry Texting
Dry texting is replying with short, low-effort messages like "ok", "lol" or "haha" that give the other person nothing to work with.
DTR
DTR stands for "define the relationship": the conversation where two people work out what they are to each other and whether they are exclusive.
Fexting
Fexting is fighting or arguing with a partner over text message instead of talking it through in person or on the phone.
Future Faking
Making big promises about a shared future, such as holidays, moving in or marriage, with no real intention of following through.
Gaslighting
Gaslighting is when someone repeatedly makes you doubt your own memory, perception or judgement so you rely on their version of events instead.
Ghosting
Ghosting is when someone you are talking to or dating cuts off all contact suddenly, with no explanation and no goodbye.
Green Flag
A sign that someone is healthy, considerate and emotionally steady, and that they're probably worth getting to know properly.
Hard Launch
Publicly confirming a relationship on social media with a clear photo or post showing your partner's face, name or both.
Hatfishing
Hatfishing is wearing a hat in every dating profile photo, usually to hide hair loss or a hairline someone is self-conscious about.
Haunting
When an ex or someone who ghosted you keeps watching your stories and liking your posts, but never actually speaks to you.
Kittenfishing
Kittenfishing is lightly exaggerating yourself on a dating profile, like old photos, an extra inch of height or a generous job title.
Love Bombing
Love bombing is overwhelming someone with affection, attention and gifts early on, so they get attached fast and become easier to control.
Negging
Negging is giving someone a backhanded compliment or subtle put-down, designed to knock their confidence so they seek the other person's approval.
Orbiting
Orbiting is when someone stops talking to you but keeps watching your stories, liking your posts and hovering around your social media.
Paperclipping
When an ex or old flame pops up at random intervals, often with a pointless message, just to remind you they still exist.
Peacocking
Peacocking is wearing bold, flashy clothes or accessories to stand out and attract attention when you are out meeting people.
Pocketing
Pocketing is when someone you are dating keeps you hidden from their friends, family and social media, as if you are tucked away in their pocket.
Red Flag
A warning sign that someone you're dating may be unhealthy, unkind, dishonest or unsafe, and that it's worth slowing down or stepping back.
Rizz
Rizz is someone's charm or skill at attracting and flirting with people. It is short for charisma.
Roaching
Roaching is hiding that you are dating several other people, then claiming you never agreed to be exclusive once you get found out.
Roster
A roster is the group of people someone is casually dating or talking to at the same time, usually before they commit to any one of them.
Simp
A simp is someone who pours excessive attention, effort or money into a person who does not return their interest.
Situationship
A situationship is a romantic or sexual connection that is more than casual but has never been given an agreed label or commitment.
Slow Fade
The slow fade is gradually reducing contact with someone, with slower replies and fewer plans, to end things quietly instead of saying it outright.
Soft Launch
A soft launch is hinting at a new relationship on social media, like a hand in a photo or two drinks on a table, without showing their face or name.
Submarining
Submarining is when someone who disappeared on you resurfaces weeks or months later, acting as if nothing happened and never explaining where they went.
Talking Stage
The talking stage is the early phase of chatting, flirting and getting to know someone before you are officially dating or exclusive.
The Ick
The ick is a sudden, often irrational turn-off towards someone you fancied, usually triggered by something small they did or said.
Wokefishing
Pretending to hold progressive, caring or socially aware values on a dating profile or early dates, to attract people who genuinely hold them.
Zombieing
Zombieing is when someone who ghosted you comes back from the dead with a casual message, acting as if they never disappeared.
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