After reading several posts last week about first dates, and first-date jitters, I thought it might be a good idea to give some ideas of things guys are looking for on a first date, specifically, what we want to hear.
"Do you work out?"
This is a win/win question because if the answer is "yes," he'll be thrilled to hear that you noticed, and if the answer is "no," there's a perfect excuse for you to tell him how fantastic he looks and to keep doing whatever it is he's doing. Danger alert: Only ask this if you really want to know the answer. Some of us can't resist going into absurd details about exactly how we do our pull-ups, the angle at which to land a right hook, etc. Worse even, some of us cannot resist a demonstration. Caveat #2: If the guy sitting across from you is clearly out of shape, don't front, and maybe avoid this topic entirely.
"I'll have the steak."
This isn't a shot at vegetarians, but more of a commentary that when we're out on a dinner date, we want to know that you are enjoying yourself, and the food, and that you haven't lost your appetite because of the terrible restaurant we've chosen, or something off-putting that we've said. There is also, of course, a whole other host of concerns that accompany a date not ordering anything-is she self conscious? Does she have food issues? Simply put: If you're going out to dinner, eat dinner.
" "
This was a trick. There's nothing between those quotation marks. But also, there's also everything between those quotation marks. Because at the end of the day (or "date" as the case may be), the most important elements early in a relationship can be the unspoken ones. Does she make eye contact, seem relaxed and comfortable? Does she pay attention, seem genuinely interested? These can be dealbreakers and much more significant than any one line of dialogue, or flirty remark. These can be the things that we remember.
What do you like to hear on a first date? What's the best line you've given on a first date?
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