10 Dating Profile Clichés (and What to Write Instead)
Estimated reading time: 6 minutes
Hop onto any dating app and you’ll see certain phrases repeatedly:
“Good vibes only.”
“Partner in crime.”
“Love to travel.”
Maybe…
you’ve rolled your eyes.
you’ve skimmed past without noticing.
they’re in your profile.
These phrases 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 do a good job describing who you are or what it’s like to date you. Also, I have to break it to you: they’re the same phrases everyone else uses — which means you end up sounding just like everyone else.
Let’s look at some of the most-used phrases in dating profiles, 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 include:
Time flies.
You can’t have your cake and eat it, too.
It is what it is.
We use clichés because:
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.
10 Common Clichés
Let’s say you only have ~500 characters to spark curiosity in a prospective suitor or suitress, I suggest you don’t spend them on clichés like “Looking for my partner in crime” or “Casually looking for something serious.”
My goal here isn’t to ban certain phrases, but to ask you to consider swapping them for ones that actually give a real and better impression of you.
1. “Good vibes only”
When you see it: It can mean an obvious, “I like positivity and positive people,” but it might also mean they only want “easy emotions” and to avoid things like drama, deeper conversations, a serious relationship.
If it’s in your profile: Remove it or replace it with something specific with depth like, “I appreciate people who can keep things light, but still talk about real stuff when it matters.”
See also: Easygoing or 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 like, “Looking for someone who’d say yes to a comedy club on Wednesday nights.”
See also: Adventurous
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. For example, “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” or “Laidback”
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. For example, “Happiest when plans go right, but unfazed when they don’t.”
See also: 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. For example, “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. For example, “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 like,“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. For example, “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. For example, “Always happy to swap favorite books, travel stories, or bread recipes.”
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.
If it’s in your profile: Remove it and ask yourself why you’re on a dating app. Dating apps aren’t exactly fun, but it tends to work best on a “garbage in, garbage out” basis.
If you truly prefer another platform, explain why and what they’ll find there. For example, “I post my cooking experiments on Instagram @ChefInProgress — message me there if you love talking recipes.”
If you’re still stuck with your profile, check out Is Your Dating Profile Attracting Matches or Just Sitting There?
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.
You may have noticed that all my suggestions above have a common thread: be specific.
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 make snap decisions.
While photos will always get the first glance, your bio still matters — what it contains (or doesn’t) can make a difference.
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.
