Many of us live in fear of giving someone the dreaded 'ick' during the early stages of dating.
An ick is a sudden aversion or feeling that you dislike a potential romantic partner based off of something they do.
Icks change from person to person, however, they can be as small as an item of clothing you've worn or a phrase you've said during a date.
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The ick is also seen as a death knell for a budding relationship, as the person who is 'icked' is now unable to rekindle their feelings towards their partner after the transgression is committed.
Unfortunately, icks can be unexpected and often things that people have no control over, which adds another level of anxiety to the minefield of modern dating.
Thankfully, there are plenty of lists online detailing the most common dating icks online, ready for you to read up on before heading on a long-awaited first date.
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According to a study conducted by online nicotine retailer Haypp, here are a list of some of the most common icks reported in a recent study.
Poor personal hygiene
When heading on a date, we often want to make sure we're putting the best version of ourselves forward - so it's no surprise that rocking up to a date looking like you've just rolled out of bed is a major no-no.
Examples of this include body odour and unwashed hair, so make sure to jump in the shower and give your clothes the sniff test before heading out.
Bad Manners
Looking for a way to put your date off within moments of first meeting? Wheel out your worst manners as there is no shortage of people online talking about how off putting they find rudeness or arrogance.
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Treatment of customer service staff is also seen as another way to gauge a person's character, with many people revealing they've gotten the ick from a partner behaving badly towards waiters and bartenders.
Talking too much about themselves/ talking on the phone
A date is an opportunity to get to know someone on a more personal level, however, there's a delicate balance when it comes to how much you should talk about yourself.
Talking too about yourself while not showing any interest towards your date is not a good look. The same goes for spending too much time on your phone, which signals to the other person that you're uninterested in them.
Bad Breath
Unsurprisingly, number one on the list is bad breath. After all, there's nothing worse leaning in to kiss someone and being repulsed by the stale smell of your date's dinner.
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Fortunately, having bad breath is something that is easily fixed by regularly brushing your teeth and taking a swig of mouthwash before heading out the house.
Keeping mints, chewing gum or breath spray with you on the go is also a failsafe way to keep the bad breath at bay.
Topics: Dating trends, Sex and Relationships
Brenna Cooper