40+ Slang Words For Dating (And How To Use Them)

Written by Gabriel Cruz - Foodie, Animal Lover, Slang & Language Enthusiast

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Dating nowadays has become more complicated due to technology being involved. There are lots of apps being used, unwritten rules to be followed, and there's even a whole different language being used related to dating.

Down below is a list of slang words for dating and other dating-related terms. Hopefully, this list helps your dating game and find the meaningful relationship you’ve been searching for all this time. Enjoy and read away!

Slang Words for Dating(in Alphabetical Order)

Backslide

Meaning:

  • (Verb) To date or hook up with someone you have previously dated, especially after a harsh breakup or falling out. 
  • Example: Jimmy backslided with Lily despite Lily cheating on him with his brother. Jimmy just can’t get over her.

Benching 

Meaning:

  • (Verb) Dating someone whom you think has potential as a partner so you keep them as a “reserve.”  You make them as your backup plan. It can also mean putting aside a potential relationship for a better one but baiting and keeping the other potential relationship.
  • Example: Julie is a manipulative and stingy lady. She benches Mark just in case it doesn't work out with Hugh.

Breadcrumbing

Meaning:

  • (Verb) In the dating world, breadcrumbing means being flirty or showing interest in person in a non-committing manner. May be done to get physical for little effort or when the person has no intention of following through.
  • Example: I hate Jackie for breadcrumbing my brother. He acts different and sad nowadays because of her.

Caking

Meaning:

  • (Verb) Simply refers to being sweet with someone you are dating.
  • Example: I am pretty jealous with Hannah since she gets caked by her boyfriend.

Casual

Meaning:

  • (Noun) It means a dating relationship with no pressure or requires little effort to maintain. It may also be used for uncommitted relations.
  • Example: Heather and I are keeping it casual because of our busy careers.

Catch And Release

Meaning:

  • (Verb) The practice of dating or flirting but letting go once the other side reciprocates the feelings. 
  • Example: Leo is a hearthrob that likes to catch and release. He likes the thrill of the chase but not the commitment part.

Catfishing

Meaning:

  • (Verb) The act of luring a date or dating someone by using a fake online profile. 
  • Example: Louise was hysterical when her date turned out to be an old dude who was catfishing her. 

Cookie-Jarring

Meaning:

  • (Verb) Similar to benching, it is a means of keeping someone as a reserve, especially when you are already dating someone.
  • Example: She almost broke up with Tom after finding out he was cookie-jarring his co-worker.

Cuffing Season

Meaning:

  • (Noun) It refers to the winter and fall months where the weather is cold. People want to date and experience the warmth of a relationship during this period.
  • Example: Brenda seems to always have dates during the cuffing season but she always realizes at the end that she wants to be free and single again.

Cushioning

Meaning:

  • (Verb) Similar to benching and cookie-jarring, cushioning means keeping in touch with a potential date just in case your main partner fails. This allows you to have a cushion to land softly on.
  • Example: Harley doesn’t consider herself to be cheating. She defends her actions by stating that she is merely cushioning.

Dear John

Meaning:

  • (Noun) A breakup text or letter sent to someone you are dating. Made famous during World War I and World War II.
  • Example:  Raver got sent a Dear John because his girlfriend couldn't handle him being away.

DTF

Meaning:

  • (Noun) Short for “down to fuck.” In the dating game, dtf means that a person is willing to have sexual relations instantly.
  • Example: Sally has been craving physical action for so long that she listed her dating profile as DTF.

DTR

Meaning:

  • (Noun) Stands for defining the relationship. When dating someone, it is a pivotal moment in which you and your partner decide if you want to take it to a higher level or continue dating. 
  • Example: We had the DTR conversation. We sadly decided to just stay friends.

Freckling

Meaning:

  • (Noun) Similar to summer fling. Dating or having intimate short-term relations during summer breaks.
  • Example: Danny was freckling with Sandy in the film but they eventually realize their love for each other.

FWB

Meaning:

  • (Noun) Short for friends with benefits, i.e. maintaining sexual relations with someone without being formally in a relationship.
  • Example: Justin and Tracy are fwb and, to be honest, I want what they have.

Getting Pinned

Meaning:

  • (Noun) An old slang word for being officially a couple or when dating gets to another level. 
  • Example: They are getting pinned and they want the world to know so they changed their Facebook status. 

Ghostbusting

Meaning:

  • (Verb) When someone who got ghosted tries to communicate with that person, then they are ghostbusting. A clever reference to the Bill Murray film.
  • Example: He got so desperate that he started ghostbusting Sharon every night. He needs to get a life.

Ghosting

Meaning:

  • (Verb) A very famous slang world, especially in the digital age. The act of ghosting means cutting off communication and disappearing away from someone, especially someone whom you dated but are no longer interested in.
  • Example: Ben is still crying after getting ghosted by Sarah. He later found out  she got back with her ex.

Going Steady

Meaning:

  • (Verb) It means dating each other exclusively or forming mutually exclusive relations with one another. 
  • Example: I’m happy for Jen and Mike for going steady. I think they are a good match for each other.

Hang Out

Meaning:

  • (Verb) A casual or chill way of saying to have a date.
  • Example: I wanted to hang out with my bae last night but he got overtime work for his boss.

Haunting

Meaning:

  • (Noun) When someone you dated ghosted but starts to randomly express interest again or tries to make their presence known again to you.
  • Example: Billy ghosted me but I’ve been getting haunted last night. Too bad for him; I am now in a happy, mature relationship.

Hooking Up

Meaning:

  • (Verb) To have sexual relations in a date or encounter with no commitment required. 
  • Example: He used to hook up a lot with girls he met on Tinder, until he met her and started to get serious.

Kittenfishing

Meaning:

  • (Verb) A lesser version of catfishing. It is when you paint yourself as a very positive and admirable person but in reality are very different. In this case, you do not create an entirely fictional online profile.
  • Example: I would have loved to date the real Mark but I can’t accept the fact that you kittenfished me. 

LDR

Meaning:

  • (Noun) Short for Long Distance Relationship. It means dating and having a romantic relationship despite being separated by distance and having no physical contact.
  • Example: Teddy and I were in an LDR for 3 years before we broke up. We just couldn’t make it work.

Little Black Book

Meaning:

  • (Noun) An address book of people you are interested in dating or hooking up with. An old slang term made obsolete by Tinder and other dating apps.
  • Example: They just broke up yesterday and now she's starting to call people from her Little Black Book.

Necking

Meaning:

  • (Verb) An old slang term used for making out or intense kissing on a date. 
  • Example: She was known in high school as the one that would go necking with anyone on a first date.

Netflix And Chill

Meaning:

  • (Verb) A famous and seemingly innocent slang phrase. It means to meet up or have a date that ends up in a sexual encounter.
  • Example: Gary asked me to netflix and chill this weekend. What a creep.

Next On Deck

Meaning:

  • (Noun) Someone who is next on the list of potential dates or partners.
  • Example: Dan is very cute and attractive. If Johnny and I don’t work out, he's next on deck.

NSA

Meaning:

  • (Noun) Stands for No Strings Attached. It is used by someone who dates not for commitment or deep investment. They just want to have fun per se.  
  • Example: I’m still young and I want to be free. I want to date and meet with people NSA.

Old Flame

Meaning:

  • (Noun) Someone whom you used to date or have romantic relations or feelings for. 
  • Example: My grandma met her old flame by the train station. She cried and wondered what could have been.  

On The Hook/Hooked

Meaning:

  • (Verb) Keeping a person on the hook means that you keep them interested through various means but you do not want to actually date them.
  • Example: Janice is the kind of woman who loves to keep men on the hook to feed her ego. 

Open

Meaning:

  • (Noun) Open or open relationship means that you are mutually dating each other but are open to having sexual contact with other people. 
  • Example: Jack and Riley are being judged for being in an open relationship but I support them. 

Orbiting

Meaning:

  • (Verb) It means when someone you dated or loved tries to be involved with you with maintain a certain distance or boundary.
  • Example: I hate Edward. He left me because of his issues but he keeps on orbiting. Why won’t he just approach me?

Pocketing

Meaning:

  • (Verb) This happens when you have been dating someone but they don’t introduce you to friends or family. They try to hide you because they might be embarrassed or something else.
  • Example: I understand why Dave is pocketing me. He is a shy type and really likes to take things slow.

Slow Fade

Meaning:

  • (Verb) To end a stagnant, dying, or lackluster dating relationship by slowly reducing contact and interaction.
  • Example: We both understood that we drifted too far. He just slow faded our relationship.

Summer Fling

Meaning:

  • (Noun) During summer breaks, short-term dating and relationships flourish. The amount of romance is high but usually ends during the break as people who pursue summer flings can’t maintain them.
  • Example: Zuko and Olsson had a very lovely and romantic summer fling that they made a song about it. 

Swayzeing

Meaning:

  • (Verb) It is just the same as ghosting but references the Patrick Swayze’s film Ghost.
  • Example: I feel horrible for swayzeing her but I just had to leave after learning she cheated.

Thirsty

Meaning:

  • (Adjective) Someone who intensely wants to have sexual intercourse, often with their partners or first-time dates.
  • Example: My single mom is one thirsty cougar. She likes young men on Tinder.

Wingman/Wingwoman

Meaning:

  • (Noun) A friend who supports you during dates and makes you look good.
  • Example: Patrick is my best man because he was my wingman when I wooed your mom. 

Zombie

Meaning:

  • (Noun) Similar to haunting, a zombie is someone who died but came back. In the dating context, this means that someone who ghosted you tries to get back with you
  • Example: Charlie went zombie with me but I didn’t take him back. 

Wrap-up

Now that you know more slang words for dating, you have expanded your vocabulary. Go out and impress your dates and friends. Maybe you may find love through a shared love for slang words. 

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