The A to Z of dating terms

All the wonderful (and sometimes weird) words you need to know

A is for ace

An asexual person (ace) doesn't experience sexual attraction. This doesn't mean they can't have sex, just that they don't feel the need in the same way.

B is for benching

Putting someone on the bench; you like them, but not enough to not keep your options open. But you don't want to not be dating them, so you keep it low-key and string them along.

C is for cuffing

Cuffing season is that time during the winter months when loneliness and cold weather make us seek someone to snuggle with. It's strictly seasonal and a mutually beneficial arrangement that ends when sharing body heat is no longer required. Cuffing comes from African American Vernacular English (AAVE).

D is for draking

What Drake song doesn't involve wallowing in sadness over your love life or missing your ex? Draking does what it says on the tin.

E is for emoji

Specifically, the aubergine and peach. Not used to remind your partner to pick up groceries.

F is for firedooring

Just like a firedoor, this relationship only opens one way. You hear nothing when you message them but when it's convenient for them, you'll get a message out of the blue.

G is for ghosting

The disappearing act ghosts are so well known for, just in a relationship. You weren't particularly impressed during a date or with someone's Tinder chat so rather than telling them you're not interested, you just disappear out of their life. Pretty harsh.

H is for haunting

Oh, so you ghosted me but you now you're watching my stories and liking all my Insta posts? Stop haunting me!

K is for kittenfishing

If catfishing is pretending to be a completely different person online, kittenfishing is the lite version. You might use outdated photos, claim you're a lawyer when you're a law student, or rely heavily on Photoshop.

L is for lovebombing

We've all been in those relationships when you click immediately and want to show as much affection and put as much effort in as possible. Love bombers do all of this until you've committed to a relationship with them, then withdraw it all suddenly. Before you know it, you're stuck in a nightmare relationship. Make no mistake: love bombing is manipulative and abusive.

M is for microcheating

You're not sleeping with someone else, but you're definitely being unfaithful. Microcheating is the low-level dishonesty that culminates in an emotional affair through heavy flirting and secrecy.

N is for non-binary

Non-binary people may identify as neither male nor female or as both male and female, nullifying the idea that there are only two genders.

P is for pie hunting

A 'pie' is a person with a disastrous dating history full of rejection and heartbreak. They are vulnerable people, perceived to be easier and low-maintenance, and therefore appealing to pie hunters. 'Pie' comes from British slang for being stood up or dumped.

R is for roaching

Roaching is a new trend where people hide the fact they're seeing more than one person at once. It refers to the old adage that if you see one cockroach, there are plenty more hiding away. Roachers tend to claim there was no implication of monogamy, shifting the blame to the other party. If it turns out your partner had been seeing seven other people the whole time, you've been roached.

S is for snack

They're so good-looking, they're irresistable. You could just eat them right up. You could even say: they're a snack.

T is for thirst trap

An intentionally provocative photo or sexually suggestive snap designed to ensnare viewers. If you're thirsty for someone, you're feeling it and you've likely fallen into the trap. Thirst traps are an ego boost; a cry for likes.

U is for uncuffing

They've served their purpose, the sun is shining again, and it's time to find a summer fling: it's uncuffing season. Everyone is single and ready to mingle again.

Z is for zombieing

You were ghosted, and now they've appeared again as if from the dead. Zombies offer a vague and unlikely explanation for their disappearance and try to rekindle a relationship.