Curving
what it means
Replying, but never to the flirtation. Curving keeps the friendship intact while steering firmly away from anything more.
Deflecting someone's romantic interest without directly rejecting them.
the origin story
AAVE, in use before it entered mainstream dating vocabulary around 2016-2017.
It describes something genuinely useful — a way of declining without a confrontation — which is why it's more neutral than most dating terms. The complaint about it is that indirect rejection can leave people uncertain for months.
in the wild
He asked me out and I said the group should all go.
Expertly curved.
She keeps changing the subject.
You're being curved, mate.
how to use it
- Describing indirect rejection
- Dating conversations
- Casual observation
- Where a direct answer would be kinder
- Professionally
- About someone who has clearly said no
related terms
receipts
Community feedback
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