Pickup Lines

The Good and the Bad

Pickup lines have a bad reputation. It's fair to say many pickup lines are cheesy if not downright offensive. The worst examples bring to mind images of a smarmy lady's man in a bad suit working his "magic" at the bar. However, they can be great for breaking the ice. When you're at a loss for words, having a ready-made sentence at your disposal can give you to confidence to speak out.

Pickup lines are equal opportunity. The common perception is that men are more likely to say them, but both men and women can and do use them.

Using a Line

If you feel compelled to use a pickup line, you should try playing it for a laugh. The listener should know you realize how ridiculous you sound. You may have to practice your delivery to get the right "we're both in on the joke" tone, especially if you're using one of the more innuendo-laced lines.

The best way to use a pickup line is to make it seem like you aren't using one at all. A simple question or complement can be the best way to start talking to someone. You'll also begin a more fulfilling conversation, learning more about the other person as a potential date.

If you want to avoid getting slapped, stick with complimentary lines, and stay away from the blatantly sexual examples.

Pickup Line Examples

Thousands of pickup lines have been uttered over the course of dating history, and many of the best, or at least the most entertaining, have been passed from person to person and collected on the Internet. Some of these lines are good for nothing more than a laugh, while others just might catch someone's attention enough to give you an opening. However, we make no claims to your dating success if you use any of the following lines:

• Do you believe in love at first sight, or should I walk by again?
• I know milk does a body good, but how much have you been drinking?
• If I could rearrange the alphabet, I'd put U and I together.
• Are those space pants? Because your butt is out of this world!
• If I told you that you had a beautiful body, would you hold it against me?
• If you were bubblegum, you'd be babe-a-licious!
• I seem to have lost my phone number. Can I borrow yours?
• I hope you know CPR, because you take my breath away.
• Was your father an alien? Because you're out of this world!
• Did it hurt? (What?) When you fell from heaven.

The previous examples are some of the cleaner pickup lines available. The majority use sexual innuendo to make their point and some are downright blunt, propositioning the listener for sex in no uncertain terms. Use caution with these lines, unless you'd like to face sexual harassment charges.