Are you new to the world of online dating? Do you feel like your matches are speaking in a secret code language you don’t understand? If so, you’re not alone. Every year hundreds of new online dating terms appear, so if you’ve been in a relationship for a while it is likely you’re behind on the lingo.
Luckily we are here to guide you through the most popular terms. Here are six dating phrases to be aware of in 2020.
1. ‘Benching’
Benching refers to when you like someone enough to talk to them… but you’re not actually 100% sure if you want to date them. So you keep talking to them, but you don’t delete dating apps and you continue matching with other people. This can be pretty frustrating for the other person, especially if they have already developed feelings for you.
2. ‘Situationship’
Have you been flirting with the same person for weeks or months without commitment being brought up? If so, it is possible that you are in a situationship. It can feel a lot like a real relationship; you likely talk every day, and have been physically intimate with each other… but there is zero talk about starting an actual, exclusive relationship, and you worry if you bring it up it will scare the other person away.
3. ‘Cuffing Season’
Summer is a great time to be single; the days are long, the bars are busy and the weather is perfect for day dates. However the cold, lonely winter isn’t as ideal, so many people try to find a relationship once the weather starts getting cold – and this is referred to as cuffing season.
4. ‘Curving’
Curving is dating slang for rejecting someone (or standing them up on a date). It can be pretty upsetting to get curved, but it is definitely better than someone leading you on (A.K.A benching you!).
5. ‘CNM’
CNM stands for consensual non-monogamy. This isn’t suited to most people, but if you want to be in an open, non-exclusive relationship you may want to look out for people who use this phrase on their dating profile.
6. ‘Myers-Briggs Personality Type’
Have you ever noticed four letter abbreviations on someone’s dating profile (such as INFJ or ENFP)? If so, it is possible they have included their Myers-Briggs personality type. You can find yours out by taking a quiz online, and the results will show you which personality types are best suited to you.
