breadcrumbing
/ˈb rɛd k rʌm ɪŋ/
EN
A manipulative dating behavior where someone sporadically sends flirtatious or attention-seeking messages to keep another person interested, without intending to commit to a serious relationship.
She realized he was just breadcrumbing when he only texted her late at night and never made concrete plans.
Etymology
The term derives from the metaphor of leaving a trail of breadcrumbs, as popularized by the fairy tale Hansel and Gretel. In dating contexts, it emerged in the early 2000s to describe the behavior of leaving a trail of small, intermittent hints of interest to keep someone hooked.
Translations
简体中文
钓鱼式约会,撒面包屑式撩,养备胎
繁體中文
釣魚式約會,撒麵包屑式撩,養備胎
日本語
気を持たせる行為,キープ行動
한국어
밀당,여지를 남기는 행동
Deutsch
Hinauszögern einer Beziehung,Manipulation bei Dates
Español
conducta manipuladora en citas,dejar con la esperanza
Português
comportamento manipulador em encontros
Français
comportement manipulateur en amour
Català
comportament manipulador en cites
Tiếng Việt
tán tỉnh thả thính không có ý định nghiêm túc
Collocations
online breadcrumbingbreadcrumbing behavior
Synonyms
manipulationstringing along
Antonyms
commitmenthonesty
Related Words
ghostingorbitingbenchingmanipulationdating