Single Brits put off potential dates with cliched lingo – as worst offending phrases revealed
SINGLE Brits are putting off people who use clichéd dating lingo on their profiles, a new survey has revealed.
Many singletons are unwittingly painting themselves as sex mad, alcohol dependent or desperate for nudes.
Seemingly innocent phrases such as “I’m open minded”, “I’m a hopeless romantic” and “will swap pics” could be giving a very different message to their potential suitors.
The phrases could be costing people a chance to find love – as almost half (44%) of the online dating app Badoo’s respondents said they wouldn’t bother approaching someone who had one on their profile.
More than a third (34%) of those quizzed think people use vague language because they have difficulty being honest about what they want, while 30% believe they’re simply saying what they think people want to hear.
Of the 1,000 people quizzed, “I’m open-minded” was the top phrase that people misinterpreted.
Respondents said they either believed this means the person is adventurous in the bedroom (33%), interested in alternative relationships (31%), or politically liberal (17%).
The phrase “I’m up for anything” left most daters thinking the person is looking for adventurous sex (53%).
A more cautious 23% thought it meant having no strong opinions, while 10% claimed the person meant they were an adrenaline junkie and into extreme sports (10 per cent).
The phrase “will swap pics” made 44% of people think that if they sent nude pics to the user, they would receive some in return.
One fifth (21%) of respondents thought it suggested the person was “shy, self-conscious and didn’t want to make a fool of themselves”, while another fifth (20%) thought it meant the person was wary of strangers.
Sex mad or alcohol dependent?
The majority of users seeing singletons using the phrase “I love a drink” claim that it makes the person look like they like to wind down with alcohol (58%).
One fifth (20%) said it made them think the person is “always drunk”, while 12% got a shy vibe, believing the person needs ‘Dutch courage’.
Chief Marketing Officer of Badoo, Dominic Gallello, said: “Our study highlights that it’s very important to avoid tired clichés on online dating profiles, as they can cause confusion with potential matches.”
“We want UK daters to show their true character, prove they are more than just a picture and a generic bio, by specifying their real interests and passions on their profile.”
Those quizzed in the poll said there were ‘countless’ other statements that left them scratching their heads over what love interests mean.
Mentioning “I’m a hopeless romantic” won’t necessarily pull at a potential partner’s heartstrings, with half of Brits either think the person is ‘soppy’ or that they’ve been hurt by love before (28%).
But an optimistic 15% claimed they thought the phrase made them think the person was a “passionate lover”.
KEY MISINTERPRETATIONS USED ON DATING PROFILES
Many singletons are unwittingly painting themselves as sex mad, alcohol dependent or desperate for nudes
‘I’m open minded’
- ‘I’m adventurous in the bedroom’ – 33%
- ‘I’m interested in alternative relationships’ – 31%
- My politics are liberal – 17%
‘I’m up for anything’
- ‘I’m looking for adventurous sex’ – 53%
- ‘I have no strong opinions’ – 23%
- ‘I’m into extreme activities/sports’ – 10%
‘I’m a hopeless romantic’
- ‘I’m a bit soppy’ – 50%
- ‘I’ve been hurt by love before’ – 28%
- ‘I’m a passionate lover’ – 15%
‘I love a drink’
- ‘I like to wind down with alcohol’ – 58%
- ‘I’m always drunk’ – 20%
- ‘I need Dutch courage’ – 12%
‘Will swap pics’
- ‘Send me nude pics of yourself and I will send you my own’ – 44%
- ‘I’m shy, self-conscious and don’t want to make a fool of myself’ – 21%
- ‘I’m wary of strangers’ – 20%
‘I enjoy travel’
- ‘I’m always seeking the latest far flung destinations for adventures’ – 51%
- ‘I have a beach holiday every year’ – 28%
- I am up for a long-distance relationship – 11%
‘Let’s see what happens’
- ‘I’m open to a relationship’ – 50%
- ‘I’m guarded/passive and am waiting for you to make the first move’ – 24%
- ‘I’m expecting sex’ – 18%
‘I work hard/play’
- ‘I like to party’ – 46%
- ‘I’m driven/committed/determined’ – 37%
- ‘I’m a city worker with a powerful job’ – 9%
‘I’m new to this’
- ‘I’m a bit embarrassed to be on a dating app’ – 53%
- ‘I’m just out of a relationship’ – 26% –
- ‘I can’t be bothered to work out how this app works’ – 8%
‘I don’t take myself too seriously’
- ‘I’m easy going’ – 76%
- ‘I’m a bit lazy and can’t be trusted’ – 11% –
- ‘I’m self-obsessed and take myself very seriously’ – 9%