Catfish
A catfish is someone who pretends to be a whole different person online, usually with fake or stolen pics and a made-up life to sell the fantasy. People say it for romance scams, fake dating profiles, or anyone hiding behind a digital costume and wasting everybody's time.
Janna
·
United States
"Delulu, spelled D-E-L-U-L-U, is basically short for delusional and is typically used in like the relationship manner where, you know, it's like, it's a funny way. It's not a like, like proper like institutional delusion. It's basically picking up like random little hints that you're having from someone you're talking to and going like, oh my god, yeah, he's into me or she's into me or they're into me. An example would be, okay, so Brian asked for my notes last time. And I saw him writing notes in class. So pretty sure he's into me. I'm just delulu."
Delulu
Short for delusional, but in a playful, online way. It first blew up in fandom spaces for people joking that their fave celebrity was obviously gonna notice them, date them, maybe marry them. Now it gets used for anyone running on wild wishful thinking, especially in romance, but also jobs, money, or any big fantasy they've already half moved into mentally.
Ghosting
Ghosting is when someone just disappears on you mid-connection. One minute you're texting, dating, chatting, making plans, then poof, they've gone full silence with no reply and no explanation. It's big in dating talk, but people use it for flaky friends, jobs, landlords, and anyone who blanks you instead of having the awkward convo.
Janna
·
United States
"A red flag is the complete opposite of a green flag. It's when someone does something that's not that good, you know, especially in a relationship. It might make you not want to be with that person, toxic behavior, one might say. An example would be, girl, when we went out to dinner last night, he literally snapped at the waiter. He was so rude and treated the waiter like he was below him. That's such a red flag."
Red flag
A red flag is a warning sign that something's off with a person, a situation, or a deal. It's the thing that makes you pause and think yeah, no, this could get messy. People use it loads in dating chat, but it works for jobs, friendships, contracts, pretty much anything that gives bad-vibes-before-the-disaster energy.
Rizz
Natural charm, flirting pull, that easy sauce that makes people warm to you fast. Usually used for someone who's smooth without looking like they're trying too hard. It's mostly about chatting people up, dating vibes, and having that pull that just lands.
Janna
·
United States
"Situationship. This is basically kind of a romantic relationship, but there's no labels. You're not really, you know, in a proper romantic relationship where you can, you know, be labeled as a boyfriend or a girlfriend. It's somewhere in between. Basically confusing for all parties. An example would be, oh my god, this situation with Brian is super confusing. Yesterday he took me out on a beautiful date, we had so much fun, but today he hasn't even texted me."
Situationship
A romantic connection that is more than friends but not quite a relationship. No labels, no commitment, maximum emotional confusion. The term exploded in the 2020s as dating culture got increasingly commitment-shy. You do everything a couple does without any of the security or definition. It is cozy until someone catches feelings harder than the other.
Janna
·
United States
"Soft-launch is the opposite, not exact opposite, but yeah, pretty much. It's when you're announcing something, but not full-on, in a low-key way, I would say. You're basically inferring, you know, whatever you're announcing. You're not straight-up saying it, so for example, let's say someone wants to soft-launch their relationship. They wouldn't post a picture of them and their significant other. They maybe might post a date they were on, with maybe just a figure showing, or not even the full person showing. An example would be, oh my god, I can't wait to soft-launch my relationship with David tomorrow."
Soft launch
The subtle introduction of a new romantic partner on social media before making things official. A background appearance in a story, a half-visible hand in a photo, just enough for your followers to notice without having to commit to a formal announcement. It is strategic, slightly calculated, and very much a product of the Instagram age of dating.
On the pull
Being on the pull means you're out with romance on the agenda, usually in the low-stakes, night-out sense. You're dressed for it, chat switched on, scanning the room, hoping to flirt, pull, or at least not waste a good haircut. It's very UK and usually tied to pubs, clubs, and big confidence with patchy results.
Hottie
Hottie usually means a seriously attractive person, the kind that makes people do a double take. In Australia and New Zealand, though, it can also mean a hot water bottle. So if someone says they need a hottie tonight, context decides whether it's flirt mode or just freezing-feet survival mode.
Bird
A casual British word for a woman, often your girlfriend or the woman someone’s seeing. It’s got a proper old-school, blokey pub-chat feel to it, so you’ll hear it in lad banter, footy talk, and tabloid-y chatter. Fine in some familiar circles, but if you aim it at a stranger it can sound a bit sleazy or sexist.
Fella
Means a bloke or guy, usually said in a friendly, casual way. You’ll hear it for strangers too, like that fella on the bus, but in loads of Irish and British chat it also means your boyfriend or partner. Add young fella or old fella for age and attitude. Warm, everyday, and not remotely fancy.
Duck
A warm, everyday pet name in the Midlands, used the way you’d say mate, love, or pal. Shop staff, cabbies, and random aunties drop it with zero flirting, just pure friendliness. It can sound odd if you’re not local, but once someone calls you duck, you feel instantly looked after.
Jack the lad
A cheeky, cocky young bloke who thinks he’s the business and usually has the patter to back it up. He’s sharp, always on the make, always flirting, and somehow talks or grins his way out of bother. You can say it with a bit of respect or with a full-on eye roll if he’s laying it on thick.
Rough patch
A rough patch is a spell where life gets a bit battered and awkward for a while. Your relationship's tense, money's tight, work's a headache, your head's all over the shop, whatever. The key bit is it usually isn't forever. You're just in a dodgy stretch and trying to get through it without fully losing the plot.
Burn bridges
Means you ruin a relationship or opportunity so completely there’s no crawling back, like quitting a job with a rant or bad-mouthing someone on the way out. It’s the classic warning to leave things on decent terms, even if you’re fuming, because the world’s small and you might need that reference, favour, or connection later.
Swipe
To swipe something is to nick it fast, sneaky, and a bit cheeky, like robbing a chip off your mate’s plate when they blink. Online, swipe is also the finger move on dating apps where you’re choosing who gets a chance and who gets launched into the digital abyss. The meaning’s usually obvious from context.
Snog
A snog is a proper full-on kiss, not a peck. We're talking making out, a bit glued together, usually with some enthusiasm and absolutely no pretending it's innocent. Very common in British English, especially when you're talking about people getting off with each other in a funny, cheeky, everyday way.