15 Important Relationship Terms You Need To Know (Part 2)

Relationships can be complicated with lots of different feelings and actions.

Sometimes they can be confusing or difficult to understand because people act differently.

That's why it's important to learn about relationship terms they help us understand what's happening and why.

IRL (In Real Life) Meetup

IRL refers to transitioning an online or digital relationship into a face-to-face meeting. For instance, if you've been chatting with someone through a dating app or social media, meeting them in person for a date or hangout would be an IRL meetup.

Hoovering

Hoovering means the manipulative behavior of trying to pull someone back into a relationship they've previously left, often through tactics such as excessive flattery, promises of change, or guilt-tripping. It's like someone using a vacuum cleaner (a Hoover) to suck you back into a relationship you're trying to leave.

Roaching

When someone you're dating hides the fact that they're seeing other people, and you only find out when another person comes forward with a similar claim. It's like discovering a nest of roaches (other partners) when you thought you were the only one in the relationship.

Gatsbying

This term is inspired by the character Jay Gatsby from F. Scott Fitzgerald's novel “The Great Gatsby”. It refers to posting on social media to get the attention of a specific person, often an ex-partner or crush. For example, posting glamorous photos or sharing achievements on social media hoping that the person you're interested in will notice and be impressed.

Stonewalling

This behavior occurs when someone refuses to engage in communication or discussions, often as a way to avoid conflict or control the narrative of a conversation. It's like building a stone wall between themselves and the other person, shutting down any attempts at communication or resolution.

Monkey Branching

This term describes the ending of a current relationship only after securing a new one, often overlapping romantic connections. It's like swinging from one "branch" (relationship) to another without ever letting go, leaving both partners feeling betrayed and hurt.

Caking

This term refers to spending excessive amounts of time with a romantic partner, sometimes to the detriment of other friendships or responsibilities. It's like metaphorically "baking a cake" together, focusing so much on the relationship that other aspects of life get neglected.

Thirst Trap

A "thirst trap" is an intentional action, often on social media, aimed at getting attention or validation from others, usually through posting provocative or attractive content. For instance, someone might post a revealing photo or a flirtatious message to get others to react or compliment them.

Nesting

Nesting is a living arrangement where divorced or separated parents alternate living in the same residence to minimize disruption for their children. It's like creating a stable and familiar environment for children despite the parents no longer being together.

NRE (New Relationship Energy)

NRE refers to the intense and exhilarating feelings experienced at the beginning of a new romantic relationship.

Enmeshment

Enmeshment occurs when boundaries between individuals in a relationship become blurred, often resulting in a lack of personal autonomy and independence.

It's like becoming so intertwined with another person that it's hard to tell where one person ends and the other begins, leading to difficulties in maintaining individual identities and boundaries.

Grooming

Grooming involves manipulating or preparing someone, often emotionally, to gain their trust for exploitation. This can occur in various contexts, such as abusive relationships or online scams. For example, an abuser may use grooming tactics to build a false sense of trust and intimacy with their victim before engaging in abusive behavior.

Understanding these relationship terms is crucial because it helps individuals recognize common behaviors and patterns in their interactions with others.