There are many ways to let someone know you like them. But scientists group all strategies into half a dozen categories.
Linguists at the University of Augsburg in Germany studied tactics by analyzing situations from the TV show “Love Is Blind.” In the show, participants go on dates through a wall, so they can’t see each other.
The university team said linguistics hasn’t yet done a thorough analysis of how flirting works.
Overall, the scientists analyzed 140,000 lines of dialogue from the show and found that participants used six ways of verbally expressing sexual and/or romantic interest.
The scientists detailed this in the Journal of Pragmatics. So, what are those tactics?
Imagining a Future Together
People who flirt often use an “imagined future” tactic — playfully building shared plans or creating hypothetical scenarios.
People who favor this style typically say things like, “If we went on a date, I’d treat you to sushi.”
This approach is about creating excitement around dazzling possibilities rather than making a concrete plan with specific arrangements.
Still, the imagined-future tactic helps establish emotional closeness quickly, even without visual contact.
Meta-Flirting: Talking About the Flirt
This style involves referring directly to the flirting or to terms associated with it.
For example, you might hear, “Look at us flirting.” Those words emphasize that the interest in the other person is overt rather than hidden, the Daily Mail reported.
Self-Promotion
Self-promotion involves presenting oneself to the object of desire. In conversation, the bragger advertises their achievements to raise their value in the eyes of a potential partner and to provoke compliments.
Humor
Participants on the dating reality show used different kinds of humor — self-deprecation, jokes, teasing, and more. A benefit of this tactic is that it lets you gauge someone’s sense of humor, which matters for future relationships.
Scientists say remains the “gold standard” because it reduces tension and signals intelligence.
Sexual Innuendo
Linguists explain that this tactic steers the conversation into sexual territory. On a date, ambiguous and risqué lines start to appear, even when the topic is mundane everyday tasks.
The researchers found that men use sexual innuendo twice as often as women.
Compliments
Positive statements about someone you like are very popular on dates. These lines are often sexualized too. For example: “You have such a sensual voice.”
Because of their sexual subtext, compliments can come across as flirtation and help push a relationship toward a more intimate stage, the researchers said.
Finally, the team said that women and men use the tactics at different rates, but every tactic appears in the repertoire of both sexes.
Photo: Love Is Blind
