If you are planning to launch a new online dating effort for the new year and it’s been a while sine your last perused the apps, you may find yourself presented with a bunch of new terms you’re not familiar with. Online lingo progresses fast, and dating slang is no different!
So, take a few minutes to familiarise yourself with the terms and trends which you might come across when you get started with online dating during 2023.
Dictionary of Online Dating Terms
Benching (or Cushioning.)
This describes the process of putting someone on the “subs” bench, so you can pick up with them if your current relationship doesn’t work out as you hoped.
Breadcrumbing
Texting someone every now and then to keep them on the line, but with no intention of “reeling” them in. If you are texting someone who never wants to actually make plans, they may be breadcrumbing you.
Catfishing
This famous phrase refers to the online dating phenomenon of using someone else’s pictures, or highly photoshopped images which don’t represent what you actually look like in person.
Cuffing Season
When the winter season rolls round, many people yearn for someone to snuggle with during the dark evenings so will “cuff” someone for the colder months with no intention of pursuing the relationship long term.
Being Curved
Someone will manoeuvre away from you if you make advances online. A form of dating rejection.
DTR
This stands for Define the Relationship. When one party want’s to know where your relationship stands and the level of commitment of their partner.
Freckling
The summer version of cuffing season, when someone wants a seasonal fling to spend their sun soaked days and nights with.
Genderfluid.
Someone whose gender identity or gender expression is not fixed and can change over time and how they feel comfortable in the moment.
Ghosting.
Another famous dating term that refers to the online dating behaviour of completely cutting someone off on all forms of social, online and in person communication without warning.
Haunting (or Zombie-ing)
This describes the behaviour of someone who has ghosted you, suddenly reappearing “back from the dead” after a month or so. Only to ghost you again!
Love Bombing
The process of overwhelming somebody with loving gestures, affirmations, gifts and compliments at the start of a relationship only to suddenly stop or switch this behaviour later down the line.
Non Binary
People who feel that the binary labels of either man or woman don’t describe or define their gender.
Pan Sexual
This term describes those who are attracted to people on all sides of the gender spectrum. Attraction is to the individual, not to a specific gender representation.
Polyamory
Someone who doesn’t feel fulfilled by just one romantic relationship, so conduct several at the same time.
Slow Fade
When a flirtation or relationship begins to peter out until all communication stops entirely. An extended break up where the party prefers to avoid you more and more rather than face an official break up.
Thirsty
When someone appears desperate and willing to go to anything lengths for sex.
