So you’re in the company of a woman you find attractive, but you’re not quite sure if she likes you likes you or if she’s just being friendly. You’re not alone. Flirting is intentionally subtle, after all, and women are notoriously less overt in making romantic overtures than men. If you’re waiting for a woman to ask you for a coffee, or approach you on the street out of nowhere, you’re doing it wrong. But just because women don’t harass men at bars or offer to buy them drinks doesn’t mean women never initiate a flirtation. Oh, on the contrary! But their methods are definitely different.
In fact, chances are pretty good that you’ve had a woman flirt with you and didn’t even realize it. Maybe you thought she was just being polite and not really flirting, or maybe you were completely oblivious to what she was putting down, but women often express frustration at how bad men are at picking up their signals.
RELATED: 5 Flirting Techniques That Can Backfire on Men
Thankfully, you can learn to distinguish between ordinary friendliness and subtle flirtation, mostly because women tend to send some of the same signals over and over again. Don’t believe us? Here are 10 subtle signs she’s romantically interested in you.
1. She’s Giving You the Look
You’ll know if she’s giving you sexy eyes: They’ll smolder from across the room (or across the short distance between you two), and leave no doubt that she sees you as more than just a friend.
2. She Keeps Touching You
Some women are touchy-feely, even with their friends; but if she’s repeatedly touching you on the arm or leg in a playful way, she’s probably indicating that she finds you attractive.
3. She’s Laughing at Your Mediocre Jokes
Laughing at a person’s jokes is a great social lubricant and indication that you find their company worthwhile, but if she’s acting like you’re the funniest man in the world, she’s definitely throwing you a bone by signaling that she’s into you.
4. She’s Really Listening to Your Stories
If she’s showing a great deal of interest in all your stories, it could mean one of two things: either you’re an amazing storyteller who she finds interesting in a platonic way… or she’s trying to pick you up. Hint: unless everyone always finds you this dazzling, it’s probably the latter.
5. She’s Ignoring Her Friends While Talking fo You
If you’re at a bar or a party and she’s ignoring her friends for your sake for most of the night, that’s a pretty clear sign that you’re the one she wants to spend her time with.
6. She’s Dressed Up for You
If you have arranged to meet ahead of time — for example, on a Tinder date, as opposed to meeting randomly in a bar — pay attention to how she’s presenting herself. If she’s dressed up to the nines on your behalf, it’s a good sign she’s hoping to snag you.
7. She Asked After You
You know that thing high school kids do when Dave tells Tyson to tell Becca that he likes her friend Jess? Adults do that too sometimes. If she’s passed a message through a chain of friends that she’s into you, then guess what: She’s into you!
8. She Temporarily Got Rid of All Her Guy Friends
Guy friends can look like boyfriends to the casual observer. If she’s making them clear off when you approach, she might be trying to signal to you that she’s available.
9. She Looks for Excuses to Prolong the Conversation
If your conversation has been winding along for a while but she won’t quite let it end — usually with prolonging questions like “So, where else have you traveled?” or “What’s your favorite song?” — she’s trying to spend more time with you. That, my friend, is a good sign she’s into you.
10. She Tells You That She’s Picking You Up
It’s the 21st century, and plenty of women are ready to ditch the subliminal approach and tell you — with words — that they’re into you. This may come in the following forms: “You’re cute,” “Tonight’s been really fun,” and best of all, “Let’s do this again soon.” Look no further than this very obvious sign!So there you have it. Clearly, there are no guarantees that a woman is into you until she says so, and the world of dating can be rife with ambiguity, but if she’s giving you any of the above 10 signs — or better yet, a combination of two or more — you can be pretty sure you’re being picked up. Nice one!
You Might Also Dig:
How to Tell if a Girl Likes You10 Compliments Women Can’t ResistSigns She’s Cheating on You
In fact, chances are pretty good that you’ve had a woman flirt with you and didn’t even realize it. Maybe you thought she was just being polite and not really flirting, or maybe you were completely oblivious to what she was putting down, but women often express frustration at how bad men are at picking up their signals.
RELATED: 5 Flirting Techniques That Can Backfire on Men
Thankfully, you can learn to distinguish between ordinary friendliness and subtle flirtation, mostly because women tend to send some of the same signals over and over again. Don’t believe us? Here are 10 subtle signs she’s romantically interested in you.
1. She’s Giving You the Look
You’ll know if she’s giving you sexy eyes: They’ll smolder from across the room (or across the short distance between you two), and leave no doubt that she sees you as more than just a friend.
2. She Keeps Touching You
Some women are touchy-feely, even with their friends; but if she’s repeatedly touching you on the arm or leg in a playful way, she’s probably indicating that she finds you attractive.
3. She’s Laughing at Your Mediocre Jokes
Laughing at a person’s jokes is a great social lubricant and indication that you find their company worthwhile, but if she’s acting like you’re the funniest man in the world, she’s definitely throwing you a bone by signaling that she’s into you.
4. She’s Really Listening to Your Stories
If she’s showing a great deal of interest in all your stories, it could mean one of two things: either you’re an amazing storyteller who she finds interesting in a platonic way… or she’s trying to pick you up. Hint: unless everyone always finds you this dazzling, it’s probably the latter.
5. She’s Ignoring Her Friends While Talking fo You
If you’re at a bar or a party and she’s ignoring her friends for your sake for most of the night, that’s a pretty clear sign that you’re the one she wants to spend her time with.
6. She’s Dressed Up for You
If you have arranged to meet ahead of time — for example, on a Tinder date, as opposed to meeting randomly in a bar — pay attention to how she’s presenting herself. If she’s dressed up to the nines on your behalf, it’s a good sign she’s hoping to snag you.
7. She Asked After You
You know that thing high school kids do when Dave tells Tyson to tell Becca that he likes her friend Jess? Adults do that too sometimes. If she’s passed a message through a chain of friends that she’s into you, then guess what: She’s into you!
8. She Temporarily Got Rid of All Her Guy Friends
Guy friends can look like boyfriends to the casual observer. If she’s making them clear off when you approach, she might be trying to signal to you that she’s available.
9. She Looks for Excuses to Prolong the Conversation
If your conversation has been winding along for a while but she won’t quite let it end — usually with prolonging questions like “So, where else have you traveled?” or “What’s your favorite song?” — she’s trying to spend more time with you. That, my friend, is a good sign she’s into you.
10. She Tells You That She’s Picking You Up
It’s the 21st century, and plenty of women are ready to ditch the subliminal approach and tell you — with words — that they’re into you. This may come in the following forms: “You’re cute,” “Tonight’s been really fun,” and best of all, “Let’s do this again soon.” Look no further than this very obvious sign!So there you have it. Clearly, there are no guarantees that a woman is into you until she says so, and the world of dating can be rife with ambiguity, but if she’s giving you any of the above 10 signs — or better yet, a combination of two or more — you can be pretty sure you’re being picked up. Nice one!
You Might Also Dig:
How to Tell if a Girl Likes You10 Compliments Women Can’t ResistSigns She’s Cheating on You