10 Dating Profile Clichés (and What to Write Instead)
Estimated reading time: 6 minutes
Scroll through any dating app and you’ll see certain phrases pop up again and again:
“Good vibes only.”
“Partner in crime.”
“Love to travel.”
Maybe you’ve rolled your eyes.
Maybe you’ve skimmed past without noticing.
Maybe they’re in your profile.
These lines are common because they’re easy and relatable. Who the heck doesn’t like good vibes and traveling the world?
The problem is they don’t actually tell someone who you are or what it’s like to date you. They’re the same lines everyone else uses — which means you end up sounding just like everyone else.
Let’s look at some of the most-used dating profile phrases, figure out what they’re saying, and show how to improve them to be more compelling.
If your bio is solid but your photos need work, check out From Meh to Memorable: Upgrade Your Dating Profile Photos.
Why We Use Clichés
I like clichés, too. Some of my favorites: Time flies. You can’t have your cake and eat it, too. It is what it is. They’re quick, familiar, and almost everyone knows what you mean.
That’s exactly why we use them:
They’re an easy shortcut.
They’re familiar and safe.
They sound upbeat or clever.
The trouble is, on dating apps, clichés don’t give anyone a reason to pick you out of the crowd.
If you only have ~500 characters to spark curiosity, don’t spend them on placeholders like “Looking for my partner in crime” or “Casually looking for something serious.”
My goal isn’t to ban certain phrases, but consider swap ping them for ones that actually give a real and better impression of you.
10 Common Clichés
1. “Good vibes only”
I love the Beach Boys’ Good Vibrations, but this phrase has morphed into shorthand for “toxic positivity.”
When you see it: It can be shorthand for “I like positivity and positive people,” but it might also mean they avoid deeper conversations.
If it’s in your profile: Keep the upbeat tone, but add depth: “I appreciate people who can keep things light, but still talk about real stuff when it matters.”
See also: Easygoing, Laidback
2. “Partner in crime”
When you see it: Usually means they want a fun companion. The key is to figure out what they want to do together. It could be as simple as movie marathons or as active as cross-country road trips.
If it’s in your profile: Swap it for something specific, “Looking for someone who’d say yes to a comedy club on Wednesday nights.”
See also: Adventure
3. “Love to travel”
When you see it: Could mean a yearly Hawaii trip, touring U.S. national parks, or collecting passport stamps every month. Almost everyone says this, so look or ask for the details.
If it’s in your profile: Show, don’t tell: “Best trip so far: eating ramen during a 12-hour layover at Narita airport.”
See also: TSA Pre-check, country flag emoji lists
4. “Easygoing”
When you see it: Often means they’re flexible and low-drama, but it can also signal they prefer to go with the flow instead of initiating.
If it’s in your profile: Add specifics to show what this looks like and why it’s important to call out in your profile:“Happiest when plans go right, but unfazed when they don’t.”
See also: Laidback, Good vibes only
5. “Fluent in sarcasm”
When you see it: They likely have a dry sense of humor and want someone who can handle it.
If it’s in your profile: Better to show than tell. If you must mention it, get specific: “Love dry humor a la Ron Swanson & Daria.”
A word of warning though: despite your fluency, sarcasm can easily miss the mark with strangers, especially over text.
6. “Work hard, play hard”
When you see it: Could mean a balanced high-energy lifestyle or burning out and spending weekends recovering. Look for hints about how they balance work with relationships and downtime.
If it’s in your profile: Be more specific and explain how relationships fit in: “I love my career, but I always reserve weekends for friends, family, and biking.”
7. “Adventurous”
When you see it: Could mean trying new experiences occasionally or pushing limits regularly. If you’re curious, you can use clues like hobbies, trip photos, or specific activities to figure out where they fall on that spectrum.
If it’s in your profile: Almost everyone says they’re adventurous, so add examples:“This year’s new thing so far: salsa dancing. Next up: learning to make pasta from scratch.”
8. A string of emojis 🍕🎶✈️🐶🍷⛷️🇯🇵🇰🇷🇩🇪🇨🇳🇺🇸🇫🇷🇪🇸🇮🇹🇷🇺🇬🇧
When you see it: Think of it as a shorthand list of their interests. Without captions or context, it’s hard to know if they ski once a year or every weekend, or if that wine glass means they’re a casual drinker or a budding sommelier.
If it’s in your profile: While a picture is worth a thousand words, emojis can come across as a silly, low-effort list. Limit to one or two emojis. Better yet, tell a mini-story: Saturdays: ski until I’m tired, then reward myself with deep-dish pizza and red wine.
9. “Just ask me”
When you see it: Often a sign they didn’t feel like writing much — and expect you to carry the conversation.
If it’s in your profile: I get it — filling out profiles can be a chore. But this line puts all the effort on the other person and gives them nothing to work with. Most won’t ask; they’ll just move on. Give people something to work with: Always happy to swap favorite books, travel stories, or bread recipes.
If you’re stuck, check out Is Your Dating Profile Attracting Matches or Just Sitting There?
10. “Not on here much” + Instagram handle
When you see it: Could mean they prefer another platform or that they’re more focused on followers than dating.
Better alternative: If you truly prefer another platform, explain why and what they’ll find there. “I post my cooking experiments on Instagram @ChefInProgress — message me there if you love talking recipes.”
How to Spot and Fix Clichés in Your Profile
That wasn’t an exhaustive list. To spot others, ask yourself:
Could thousands of other people say this?
Can someone picture what I mean without asking?
Would this spark a follow-up question?
Am I using this phrase because it seems safe and easy?
If the answer is “yes” to any, rewrite it. The more you sound like you, the more likely you are to connect with someone who’s a match.
Final Thoughts
Clichés feel safe — but safe rarely stands out. Dating apps are crowded, and people scroll fast.
You don’t need to be wildly original, but try to be a little more “you” by replacing these vague placeholders with details that make it easy for someone to imagine talking to you, or better yet, meeting you.
