How to Properly Respond to Pick-Up Lines

Pick-up lines are cheesy and awkward. That’s the whole point. No one hears a pick-up line and thinks, “Oh, this is the best approach i’ve ever heard!”. It’s about breaking the ice and expressing an interest, but that creates a problem for anxious and awkward people on the receiving end of these comments.

What are you supposed to say in reply to terrible pick-up lines?

Introduction: What is a Pick-up Line?

A pick-up line is a single, witty line designed to start a conversation while displaying the humor of the speaker. The goal is not really to say something insightful or mind-blowing. You’re not trying to get them to fall in love with you. It’s all about having a little fun and even inciting some playful responses.

A pick-up line can be somewhat disarming for the receiver, but it’s also an easy approach for the speaker. Think about it from their perspective. Would you rather nervously sidle up to some, politely ask their name, compliment them, express an interest, and risk getting your feelings hurt, or approach them with a cheesy joke, knowing that you’ll be able to tell if they like you or not and won’t feel too offended if they don’t?

Assess the Situation Depending On Where You Are

The first thing to consider when planning a response is the setting. Are they trying to pick you up online or offline? Are you in a pub with friends or strolling through a supermarket on your own?

How to Respond on Dating Apps Like Match

It’s so much easier to deal with pick-up lines online if you’re not actually interested in the person. Just don’t respond. If they ask a question, make an awkward joke, or say something cheesy and you have absolutely no interest, ignore them!

If you are interested and want to respond and express an interest, say something funny. The best responses are a little mean. It sounds counter-intuitive, but the fact that you’re replying is enough for the other person to get the hint. They’re also much easier online than offline, as you have time to work on a response and won’t be stumbling over your words.

Here are a couple of ideas:

• Pickup: I could get lost in your eyes.
• Answer: What if I close them?

• Pickup: Your legs must be tired from running through my dreams all night.
• Answer: No, it’s from dodging terrible lines like that.

Crafting Your Comebacks in a Bar or Social Setting

Responses like the ones above are more likely to send them packing in a social setting, but it’s harder to come up with them on the spot. You can still try to have a little fun with them or simply state that you’re not interested. If you are interested, even better, as now it’s time to be funny and flirty.

There are a few potential ways to deal with such a situation:

• Critique their line: Was there something wrong with their delivery? Was it a funny or cheesy line? Tell them. Give them a score as if you were a judge, and then tell them where they could improve. “Well-rehearsed. Good line. Poor delivery. 8 points out of 10”.
• Ask them for another: If you laughed at the line, tell them it was a good one and ask if they have more. If it didn’t impress you, let them know and tell them to try again.
• Act confused: Pick-up lines are silly and not designed to be taken seriously. But you can take it literally, responding to lines like “Did it hurt when you fell from heaven?” with “I imagine it would have done, but that never happened to me. Maybe you have me confused with someone else?” This one can work if you’re interested and if you’re not interested. It depends on how you follow that initial response.
• Tell them a riddle: Give them a challenge. “If you’re so good with words, how about this: answer a riddle correctly and I’ll let you buy me a drink.” You can make the riddle as easy or as hard as you want. You can also use a riddle that has more than one answer to ensure they’re always wrong.
• Ask them to repeat themselves: Not interested? Did they say something so cheesy that it bordered on offensive? Ask them to repeat themselves and keep asking until they realize how silly it is. It would be a somewhat unfair reaction for a harmless pick-up line, but you can still ask them to repeat once and then say, “Do you now realize how stupid that sounds?”
• Tell them they don’t need pick-up lines: If you want to dive in at the deep end and cut through the nonsense, tell them they’re too good-looking to be relying on pick-up lines and should have just offered to buy you a drink.
• Change the subject: If the line made you feel a little awkward and embarrassed for them, but you have a genuine interest, just pretend it didn’t happen and change the subject. Say “hi” and ask for their name before inviting them to sit with you.

Virtual Flirting: Responding on Social Media DMs

Social media is a different ballgame from online dating sites and meeting in person. They have more info on you than they would on an online dating site, and it might be harder to ignore them if you’re not interested. How you respond to them will depend on whether you’re interested in pursuing things or not. Here are a few different scenarios to consider:

• A message from a stranger who only just connected
  • Interested: Show them you’re interested by lightly mocking their line, playing along with whatever scenario they create, or just giving them a simple laugh and encouraging more.
  • Not Interested: If you want to be polite, tell them you’re not interested and/or you’re already in a relationship. If they persist, block them. You can also just ignore them, unfollow them, or block them from the outset. You don’t owe them anything.
• A message from a friend you’ve known for years
  • Interested: You have to play this one carefully. If you have never had any sign that they like you and this is out of the blue, it could be a joke. If there have been signs and their pick-up line is cautious, it suggests they might be serious. Respond in kind, taking their lead and letting them guide the conversation.
  • Not Interested: You might not want to lose them as a friend or make your relationship awkward. So, say something that makes them think you’re assuming it’s a joke while making your intent clear, “Are you practicing your pick-up lines on me now? Who’s the unlucky woman/man? Not sure if I’m the best practice for you. Not really my type, as you know!” Add a few emojis to show that you’re being funny mean, and not mean mean!
• A message from a co-worker
  • Interested: Tread lightly, as getting this one wrong could make for some awkward trips to the office. Just let them take the lead, but give it time. They could be drunk or in a weird mood. You don’t want to go all out now and then find out they ignore you tomorrow.
  • Not Interested: if you’re close, play it off like you think they are joking. Maybe state you have a partner in a playful way. Of course, if they become aggressive or obscene, then you need to take it up with your employer.
• A message from a fan
  • Interested: If you have a following, it can put you in a strange position when your fans start sliding into your DMs. First, make sure it is appropriate and they are above age and not married, then just go with the flow and let them open up. The fact that you responded at all will give them a confidence boost (not to mention a story they could be telling for years), and they may delve deeper and make your job easier after that.
  • Not Interested: Ignore them if you want. You might be busy and have too many messages. Create a generic response that thanks them without giving too much away. You might feel like you owe them something, but it doesn’t mean you should field a barrage of pick-up lines that make you feel uncomfortable.

Should You Do Pick-Up Lines Yourself?

It depends on whether you’re comfortable using them, have any good ones, and can deliver them without stumbling over your words. They are a good way to break the ice when done properly, but they can also make the situation even more awkward if you don’t get it right.

Some people seem to think that pick-up lines are essential. They are not. There’s nothing wrong with approaching someone, asking their name, and seeing if they would be interested in a drink, date, or chat.

Conclusion: Step Up Your Response Game

The responses you provide to a pick-up line will set the tone for everything that follows, whether that means they feel more comfortable in your presence, leave you alone, buy you a drink, or ask you out on a date. You can have a little fun with them, ignore them, confuse them, or fire back with your own pick-up lines. The important takeaway is that it’s not something you should be stressing about!

Key points