Zombieing is new term in dating – but can you guess what YODO and Pocketing mean?
JUST when it seemed the world of dating couldn’t get any more difficult, there’s yet another new term to contend with: Zombieing.
Much like a back-from-the-dead corpse, this is when a love interest vanishes then reappears weeks, months or even years later.
Zombieing, which is on the rise according to Cosmopolitan magazine, is one of many new dating terms that are leaving singletons’ knickers in a twist – and not in a good way.
So are you a Rizz God? Have you been Freckled? And do you believe in YODO?
Find out with our A-to-Z of trendy courtship slang.
AROMANTIC: Much like someone who is asexual, this person doesn’t experience any romantic feelings for anyone and will be emotionally off-limits.
BEIGE FLAGS: If someone has a bland dating profile or says something universal like, “I love pizza”, it might be a beige flag because it suggests laziness or mediocrity but isn’t quite a red flag.
Also BENCHING — ever feel you are not the only person in your special someone’s life? You may be being “benched” and kept as a standby while they look for a better option.
COBWEBBING: Out with the old and in with the new.
This is when you get rid of photos of you and your ex as well as clothing/gifts they left behind.
And COOKIE JARRING — having a back-up-plan partner by getting a little too friendly with someone else while you are already dating.
DTR CONVERSATION: Want clarity on whether you are exclusive, friends with benefits or something more?
You need a Define The Relationship chat.
ECO-DUMPING: More than a third of modern singles want a partner who cares about the environment.
So if things end after you turn down a foraging class, you may be a victim of eco-dumping.
FRECKLING: Just like the tan- coloured spots, these daters pop up and remain present throughout the summer months only to vanish as soon as winter looms.
GHOST-LIGHTING: The brutal act when a love interest vanishes during the early stages, only to get back in touch to tell you why you were so “ghost-able” in the first place.
HALF-NIGHT STAND: Similar to a one-night stand but the person leaves shortly after you have finished getting frisky under the sheets.
IRL: When you finally get off your phone and dating apps to meet up in person, you are seeing them In Real Life.
JELLY: Feeling a little annoyed that your love interest is out having fun with friends?
You may be “jelly”, meaning jealous.
KITTEN-FISHING: The little sibling of “catfishing” — where a person uses somebody else’s pictures or identity to woo you.
Kitten-fishing is a person who tells a small lie on their dating profile, such as not being as keen about a hobby or interest as they claimed.
LEFT ON READ: When a love interest sees your messages but doesn’t bother to reply or change the message back to unread to spare you from feeling ignored.
MICROCHEATING: That sneaky person who emotionally double-deals on their partner by being especially flirty or doing everything but physical acts with a supposed friend.
NON-DATE DATE: Intense eye contact and flirty banter may be a good sign on a night out.
But if one party thinks you are just friends, this is a non-date date.
ORBITING: When someone you are no longer seeing constantly likes your photos or watches your social media stories without getting in touch.
P OCKETING: If your significant other doesn’t introduce you to their friends or is only available when they aren’t doing anything else, then you could have a pocketer on your hands.
Q: NO, Q is not short for question, it’s slang for “cool”.
So, if you’re still “Q” with an ex, it means you remain on good terms.
RIZZ: Short for charismatic, this is someone who is very successful with the opposite sex.
If they are a “Rizz God”, it means they are at the top of their game.
SOFT-LAUNCHING: Someone who teases a new romance online with mysterious photos, such as them holding hands, but doesn’t reveal the person’s identity in case it doesn’t work out.
Also, SIDE- BARRING — someone who is always on their phone or never feels fully present with you on dates or when you spend time together.
T EXT-LATIONSHIP: Things may seem flirty and fun over messages but when you meet in person and there is no chemistry, you’ve had a text-lationship.
UNCUFFING: When the weather starts to get warm and you choose to end things with the winter fling you settled for and cuddled up with during the chilly months.
VULTURING: Just like the avian predator that strikes when prey is at its weakest, these types of daters hold out until someone’s relationship is on its last legs before making their move.
WHELMING: When your love interest constantly boasts about all the online dating matches they’ve had in the past or, more worryingly, still have now.
Also, WOKEFISHING — a deceitful act where a love interest pretends to be into something to seem open-minded when they are not, and are actually a dinosaur.
X-FACTOR: That person you are inexplicably attracted to but can’t quite understand what the appeal is.
YODO: If you are tempted to get back together with an ex who hurt you, just remember, You Only Dump Once — and quickly move on.
ZOMBIEING: Described as “ghosting to the next level”, this is when someone you have been dating or talking to vanishes, then suddenly gets back in touch much later without explanation.