When you need this

Sooner or later, you tell a close friend about someone you like. Maybe it's a person from your running club, a coworker you always end up chatting with, or someone you've been on two dates with. These talks happen in kitchens and on long walks, and they're half excited, half nervous.

The phrases below work for anyone talking about anyone: a woman about a man, a man about a man, a friend about someone they haven't named yet. What makes this talk warm is that it focuses on the person: how they make you feel, what you have in common, why you keep thinking about them. A good friend listens, asks a few questions, and then asks the big one: "So, are you going to ask them out?"

Phrases

you like someone romantically, usually secretly

the natural way to start the story

you got along well right away

you share interests and opinions

a big reason people like someone

you think about the person all the time

you feel shy near the person

asking if someone already has a partner

a friend's good news

will you invite them on a date

worrying about the friendship or the workplace

you've started dating a person

Say it out loud

Tap a sentence to hear it. Say it after the voice.

Practice · 3 min

Say it to a close friend.

  1. 1
  2. 2
  3. 3
  4. 4
  5. 5

Say it today

Use it once in a real conversation before tomorrow. Out loud counts, even to yourself.