🚩 What He Says vs. What He Means (Dating Decoder Inside!)

Hey, it’s Friday… so let’s have a little fun.

Let’s play a game:

How many of these messages have landed in your inbox this week?

(Extra credit if you laughed, rolled your eyes, or hit “block” before your coffee cooled.)

It’s been a long week spent deep in the dating trenches—helping clients search for high-potential matches, dating coaching, and sort through the "maybe" pile.

And while I saw some truly great messages (yep, those are for another post)...

There were also some that made me ask:

Is this guy serious?

Was this a dare?

Did ChatGPT write this on zero sleep?

Let’s just say the word “ridiculous” feels generous.

So before you head into the weekend, pour yourself something cold, scroll down, and join me in decoding the "what he said vs. what he meant" chaos.

Because if we can’t laugh at these... we’d all just delete the apps and move to Tuscany.

Online dating is a modern love language—and, like all languages, it’s full of nuance, subtext, and, let’s be honest, a lot of copy-paste.

If you’ve ever read a message and thought, “Hmm, what does he really mean by that?”—you’re not alone. After coaching over 30,000 singles, I’ve seen it all… and translated even more.

Here’s your witty, no-nonsense decoder for the 25 most common messages you’ll get from men online—and what they’re actually saying.

1. “Hey, beautiful.”

What it sounds like: A sweet compliment.

What it means: He sent this to five other women this morning. You’re Beautiful #6.

2. “So what brings you here?”

What it sounds like: Genuine curiosity.

What it means: He didn’t read your profile. Or anyone’s.

3. “I’m not really into texting. Wanna meet?”

What it sounds like: Bold and direct.

What it means: He wants to skip the effort part.

4. “You seem fun 😉”

What it sounds like: Flirty vibes.

What it means: He's winging it—and hoping you’ll carry the convo.

5. “I’m drama-free.”

What it sounds like: Calm and stable.

What it means: He might be the drama.

6. “I’m looking for something real.”

What it sounds like: Relationship-minded.

What it means: He’s exploring options until something better pings.

7. “Tell me something interesting about you.”

What it sounds like: Thoughtful.

What it means: He has zero openers and expects you to do the heavy lifting.

8. “You’re not like the other women on here.”

What it sounds like: A compliment.

What it means: He definitely said this to the other women on here.

9. “Let’s see where things go.”

What it sounds like: Open-ended.

What it means: He has no plan, no clarity, and no real intention.

10. “Let’s keep it low-key.”

What it sounds like: Chill and casual.

What it means: No labels. No expectations. No commitment.

11. “You're out of my league.”

What it sounds like: Humble.

What it means: He’s already emotionally unavailable and pre-apologizing. Bye-bye.

12. “I'm recently out of a relationship.”

What it sounds like: Honest.

What it means: His ex still has a drawer at his place.

13. “I travel a lot for work.”

What it sounds like: Worldly and successful.

What it means: You’ll see him once a month, maybe.

14. “I don’t like drama.”

What it sounds like: Peaceful.

What it means: The last 3 women blocked him for drama.

15. “You look amazing for your age.”

What it sounds like: A compliment.

What it means: A backhanded compliment that somehow made you feel 90.

16. “Looking for my partner in crime.”

What it sounds like: Adorably cheesy.

What it means: He hasn’t updated his profile since Obama’s first term.

17. “I’m a simple guy.”

What it sounds like: Easygoing.

What it means: Low effort, low initiative, low expectations.

18. “I’m not like other guys.”

What it sounds like: Unique.

What it means: He is exactly like the other guys.

19. “We should grab a drink sometime.”

What it sounds like: Casual offer.

What it means: He will never pick a day, time, or location.

20. “Let’s not rush anything.”

What it sounds like: Emotionally mature.

What it means: Commitment-phobe in a philosophical disguise.

21. “I’m just seeing what’s out there.”

What it sounds like: Open.

What it means: Swiping for sport. (well, at least he was honest)

22. “Not looking for anything serious… unless it’s the right person.”

What it sounds like: Balanced.

What it means: Classic waffle. He doesn’t know what he wants.

23. “Just ask me anything!”

What it sounds like: Friendly.

What it means: I didn’t fill out my profile—please do all the work.

25. “Hey there 😉”

What it sounds like: Cute opener.

What it means: This emoji has done all the flirting heavy lifting for him today. So sincere…

💡 Final Thought:

Online dating isn't about decoding BS—it's about having the clarity (and confidence) to see through it. Remember: you're not here to waste time—you’re here to meet someone real.

✨ Want help rewriting your profile, spotting red flags before the first date, or finally finding someone who actually shows up for you?

Let’s work together.

📍 33000Dates.com — Dating smarter starts here.

With laughter and love,

Andrea