Consciously single

According to Bumble, consciously single refers to those who are making a conscious decision to be single, with many being more mindful and intentional in how and when they date.

Dry dating

Dry dating is for those who choose not to drink alcohol on dates.

Kittenfishing

Kittenfishing is basically catfishing’s little sister and refers to those who aren’t lying on their dating profile but maybe bending the truth here and there.

Zombieing

Zombieing is when an ex emerges back from the dead (the dead being your relationship), usually after ghosting you.

Freckling

What cuffing season is to the winter, freckling is to the summer, as people seek a partner during the warmer months.

Pocketing

When someone you’re dating keeps you hidden by not introducing you to family and friends and leaving you off social media.

Carouselling

The thing about the talking stage is that it only seems to be getting longer. It feels like what used to be three or four days of messaging has turned into weeks. The endless conversation, the months-long talking stage, it’s tiring and stressful and has been dubbed carouselling by new dating app, Finding The One.

Breadcrumbing

‘Breadcrumbing’ involves leading someone on, and keeping their hopes up through small and superficial acts of interest. A breadcrumber might be flirtatious, complimentary or seem engaged with you at first, but will ultimately end up disappointing you with empty promises and emotional abandonment.

Backsliding

On paper, going back to an ex doesn’t seem like a great idea because the breakup happened for a reason. But what if it does work out? Well, this is what has been termed backsliding.

Cloutlighting

Coined by Jessica Lindsay for Metro in 2018, the term is a portmanteau of ‘clout’ and ‘gaslighting’ – when someone uses their partner to create content solely for the purpose of gaining popularity on social media through abusive and manipulative techniques.

Polter-ghosting

It’s one thing for a date to stop responding to your messages but for someone to simply not turn up to a date without an excuse can be an awful experience. And it’s something that Bumble has cracked down on in its app, putting strict rules around polter-ghosting in its code of conduct guidelines last year.

Cobwebbing

Coined by Bumble last year, the term refers to clearing off the cobwebs and dumping old names and flames so you can make the first move towards something new.

Tinselling

Coined by Wilson, the name draws inspiration from the shiny, cheerful veneer of tinsel covering what lurks beneath. “Couples tend to tinsel their relationship during the holiday season because societal and family pressures to feel a sense of unity, love and happiness at this time of the year overrides their true feelings,” she explains.

So, there you have it. These are all the key phrases you need to know to keep your dating knowledge in tip-top shape.

From ‘backsliding’ to ‘orbiting’, these are the 25 dating terms you need to know