The ick - meaning and definition
Alsogetting the ickickssudden turn-off
Definition
A sudden feeling of aversion toward someone you were attracted to, often triggered by a small or harmless habit.
At a glance
- A sudden feeling of aversion toward someone you were attracted to.
- Often triggered by a small, harmless habit.
- The feeling can be strong enough to end interest.
- Some see it as a hint of deeper incompatibility, others as unexplained loss of attraction.
In detail
The ick might be sparked by the way someone runs for a bus, chews or tries too hard to impress. The trait itself is usually trivial, but the feeling can be strong enough to end interest.
Some psychologists suggest the ick can be an unspoken signal of deeper incompatibility or of anxiety about intimacy. Others see it as simple, unexplainable loss of attraction.
In a sentence
- I got the ick when he clapped as the plane landed.
- Is it fair to end things over the ick, or should I give it time?
Where the word comes from
The phrase appeared in a late-1990s US TV comedy and became widely popular in the UK after a reality dating show used it in 2017.
Not to be confused with
- Red flag
A red flag indicates a genuine concern; the ick is often about harmless quirks.
Common questions
Why do people get the ick?
Nobody knows for sure. Some psychologists think it can be an unspoken signal of incompatibility or anxiety about intimacy, while for others it is simply a loss of attraction that is hard to explain.
Can the ick go away?
Sometimes. If the trigger is minor, the feeling may fade as you get to know the person better. If it persists, it may be a sign that the attraction is not there.