Talking about Dating in English - Vocabulary + Dialogue

Dating and relationships are common topics in everyday English conversations.

Learning common phrases for dating can help you share your feelings about romantic relationships in English. They will also make it easier for you to understand other people’s dating stories.

In this free lesson, you’ll learn English phrases for meeting a new partner, dating, breaking up, and moving on.

Contents

Dating dialogue audio example

In this natural British English dialogue, Mel tells Kim about her past relationship with Darren. She talks about how they met, how they started dating, and why they broke up.

Listen!

Listen to the dating dialogue a few times, but don’t read the transcript yet. When you’ve answered the questions, check the transcript and relationship phrases below.

Comprehension Questions:

How did Mel and Darren meet?
Why did Mel decide to end the relationship?
What is Mel’s relationship with Darren like now?

Phrases for talking about relationships

Here are some natural English phrases to talk about relationships. Each section includes phrases from the dialogue and extra useful expressions.

Meeting someone

In the dialogue, Mel uses these phrases to describe meeting Darren:

“I met him at a work do.” = I met him at a work event or party.
“I fancied him quite a lot.” = I was very attracted to him.

Other useful phrases:

“We really hit it off.” We understood each other / we liked each other right away.
“We fell for each other on the first date.” We had strong feelings for each other when we first met

Dating and spending time together

Mel also talks about how their relationship began:

“We started seeing each other pretty much right away.” = We began dating almost immediately.
“We got on with each other really well.” = We really understood each other and enjoyed each other’s company.
“He’d come over to mine, or I’d go over to his.” = He used to visit my place, and I used to visit his place.
“We didn’t waste any time.” We started the relationship quickly.

Breaking up

Mel explains why and how the relationship ended:

“He started to get on my nerves.” = He began to annoy me.
“I found out he was cheating on me.” = I discovered he was seeing another girl.
“I dumped him.” = I ended the relationship.

Other useful phrases:

“We broke up.” We ended our relationship.
“He didn’t take it well.” He reacted badly to the breakup.

Moving on

Mel talks about what happened after they broke up:

“I just kept giving him the cold shoulder.” = I ignored him.
“I blocked him.” = I stopped him from contacting me.

Other useful phrases to talk about moving on:

“We’re just good friends.” We are friends but not romantically involved.
I’m over him. = I have recovered / I don’t have feelings for him any more (since we split up).
We’re just good friends. We are friends but not romantically involved.

Dialogue transcript: dating and relationships

Try to follow the transcript while listening to the dialogue. This will help you understand the phrases and how they are used naturally.

Mel: …so Darren was this guy I met at a work do. He was a bit of a show-off, but he was quite nice-looking. I fancied him quite a lot.
Kim: So was it love at first sight, then?
Mel: Not really, but as soon as we got chatting, we really hit it off. You know, we were into the same stuff, laughed at the same jokes, that kind of thing. We just got on really well with each other, do you know what I mean?
Kim: So when did you start seeing each other, then?
Mel: Pretty much right away. He’d come over to mine, or I’d go over to his, you know, we didn’t waste any time!
Kim: So, did it just feel like a fling at the time? Or did you think he might be the one?
Mel: Well, we did have good chemistry, but to be honest, I wasn’t sure if he was really my type. You know, after a while, he started to get on my nerves a bit.
Kim: So when did you break up with him, then?
Mel: When I found out he was cheating on me.
Kim: And how did he take it when you dumped him?
Mel: Badly. He kept calling me and trying to get back with me, but I just kept giving him the cold shoulder, and in the end, I blocked him.
Kim: So, have you lost all contact now, then?
Mel: No, we still work together, and we sometimes say hello and stuff, but there’s definitely nothing going on between us any more, that’s for sure.
Kim: Do you think he still holds a candle for you?
Mel: I hope not! And anyway, who cares? I wouldn’t have him back in a million years.
Kim: I don’t blame you!

Extra vocabulary from the dating dialogue

Here are some useful words, phrases and idioms from the dating dialogue transcript.

a work do = an event (maybe a dinner or a party) at work
a show-off = Someone who likes to draw attention to themselves or their abilities.
- Example: “He was a bit of a show-off, but he was nice-looking.”
get on (with someone) = To have a good relationship with someone.
- Example: “We just got on really well with each other.”
a fling = A short, casual romantic relationship.
- Example: “Did it just feel like a fling at the time?”
have (good) chemistry = A natural connection or attraction between people.
- Example: “We did have good chemistry.”
get on my nerves = To annoy or irritate someone.
- Example: “He started to get on my nerves a bit.”
dump someone = To end a romantic relationship with someone.
- Example: “I dumped him.”
give (someone) the cold shoulder = To ignore someone.
- Example: “I just kept giving him the cold shoulder.”
hold a candle for (someone) = To still have feelings for someone.
- Example: “Do you think he still holds a candle for you?”
have / take someone back = get back together with someone you split up with before
- Example: “I wouldn’t have him back..“
(not) in a million years = An strong way to say “never.”
- Example: “I wouldn’t have him back in a million years.”
I don’t blame you = I sympathise with you / I would do the same thing.

Relationship and dating idioms and phrases

These phrases are helpful for talking about relationships in different situations, from meeting someone new to breaking up or describing your feelings.

Talking about people you find attractive

These phrases are useful for describing someone you think is attractive:

I think he’s cute. I think he / she looks attractive.
I have a (huge) crush on her. I think he / she is attractive.
She’s my crush! = I think he / she is attractive.
I’ve got the hots for her. = I really like her.
I fancy her. = I think she‘s attractive.
He’s / she’s a (real) looker! = He / she’s very attractive!

Starting a relationship

Here are some ways to describe the beginning of a romantic relationship:

We started seeing each other = we started a romantic relationship
We became an item = we started a relationship
We started going out (with each other) = we used to be boyfriend / girlfriend
It was love at first sight. We fell in love the moment we met.
We fell for each other on the first date. = we liked each other very much when we first met

Being in a relationship

Here’s how you can talk about different kinds of romantic relationship:

Things are a bit up and down = there are good days and bad days
We’re pretty stable right now. = everything’s good (or better) in our relationship these days
Everything’s roses = Our relationship is great
We get along quite well = our relationship is quite strong
We don’t always see eye to eye = we often disagree about things
We keep falling out / we’re always fighting = we often argue or get angry with each other

Talking about your date / partner

Here’s how people often talk about partners they are dating:

He’s the one! = He’s my perfect partner
She’s just my type! = She’s the kind of person I like
It’s a match made in heaven! = Our relationship is amazing!
We’ve got (good) chemistry. = We understand each other well.
We’re not right for each other = we are too different / we don’t understand each other

Phrases for ending a relationship

Sometimes, relationships come to an end! Here’s how to explain this in natural English:

It’s over. = our relationship has finished.
We stopped seeing each other. = we ended our relationship.
We broke up / split up. = We ended our relationship.
We decided to go our separate ways = We decided to end our relationship.
He dumped me / He finished with me = He ended the relationship.

Life after a relationship

Even after a relationship ends, life still goes on! Here are some phrases to talk about life after a relationship has finished:

It’s good to have him out of my hair = I feel good now that the relationship has ended.
(There are) plenty more fish in the sea! = Don’t worry – you will find another partner, soon!
You just have to move on! = you need to stop thinking about that person and find someone else