Relationships
Solid one-liners to liven up the convo.
Thereâs nothing like a dating app to jumpstart your writerâs block. If you thought cranking out a 10-page school paper the night before it was due was tough, try getting an interesting conversation out of Alex, 28, three miles away. Amidst the sea of âHeyâ, âKâ, and other one-word messages, it feels impossible to get a full dialogue going with an online match. Thatâs why if youâre thinking about sending a witty response to a âwhatâs upâ message on Tinder, Hinge, or Bumble, it can help to have some inspiration.
Perhaps bland, uninspired messages are part of the reason why dating apps are in their flop era right now, and why itâs so easy to catch the ick from your matches these days. Still, thereâs no denying that the apps have made it a lot easier for singles to meet new people, so thereâs no harm in swiping through your feed in hopes of meeting the one.
Because it can be intimidating to jump into a good convo, having some solid one-liners in your back pocket can make everything easier. So the next time you get a âWhatâs up?â on Tinder, feel free to refer back to this list of replies so you can have the last word.
1âOh you know, just waiting for someone to send a funny first message for once.â
If you get the sense your match has a sense of humor, either from their photos or bio, try making a joke about the nature of their âWhatâs up?â message.
2âWell, Iâm on here so clearly not my love life.â
If youâre looking for a hookup or something casual, get the word out there that youâre single and ready to mingle.
3âWho told you thatâs my favorite first message ever? â
If you get the sense your match is nervous or didnât know what to say, this joke makes light of the situation without putting anyone on the spot.
4âBecause youâre cute, Iâll allow you a do-over.â
Every one knows a âWhatâs upâ is a low-effort first message. Let them know youâre interested and set them up to make you laugh.
5âIn this city? The rent!â
If youâre looking for a relationship or an actual date, not a come-over-to-bang date, start the conversation off wholesome and silly. Youâll get to check your match's vibe right away.
6âHmm, a 3/10 first message. Do you want to try again?â
Sometimes a match just needs a little encouragement. Let them know thereâs room for improvement.
7âOMG, a cutie just messaged me âWhatâs up,â what should I say?... AH! Meant to send that to someone else.â
The âmeant to send that to someone elseâ is a classic middle school move. If you get the sense your date has a good sense of humor, hit them with a double message.
8âWell, that pic of you at the beach is getting my heart rate up.â
If youâre looking for a hookup, complimenting their appearance shows youâre attracted to them and not sheepish about it.
9âJust enjoying the sites and sounds of Tinder.â
Talking about other profiles youâve come across is an easy conversation started on Tinder. If youâre nervous or never know what to say on apps, try asking them about the strangest profiles theyâve seen.
10âThink my thumbs need a rest from swiping and typing. Wanna get drinks tonight?â
If youâre tired of matching and messaging and youâre ready to meet IRL, ask your date for drinks.
11âOh you know, different day, same dating app.â
If youâre feeling tired of the apps, make a joke about it. Even the biggest extroverts get swiping fatigue. Your match will likely resonate with your feelings.
12âAt Trader Joeâs. Need anything?â
Making a grocery store date is a super silly response to a first message that lets your match know you donât take yourself too seriously. If youâve been messaging for a few days, this joke will show your match more of your sense of humor â it may also give you deep insight into what snacks they like.
13âAfter this week, my caffeine intake.â
If youâve been having a busy week, making a joke about it is a great way to open conversation about whatâs been happening.
14âHonestly, Iâm counting the minutes until itâs appropriate to drink wine.â
If youâre looking for a fun-loving date to go out with, let them know youâre down to party.
15âSeeing how long itâs going to take my roommate to notice it's her turn to buy paper towels.â
Thereâs no bonding like bad roommate bonding. If youâve been messaging for a bit, this tells your match a little more about your life without going too deep.
16âPretending to do work, but really swiping left and right.â
Making a joke about your job lightens the tone and opens the conversation to what you both do for money â and for fun.
17âJust getting my workout in on the Swipezone.â
If your match has a ton of gym pics, making a joke about your own exercise routine opens the convo into their interests.
18âExhausted from looking at fish pics.â
If youâve been chatting for a bit and youâre ready to meet IRL, let your date know youâre done with the apps.
19âHow much time you got?â
Whether you actually tell them a long story about your demanding coworker or just use this to make a joke, this is a great vibe check-type question to see if someoneâs down to chat.
20âThat depends...do you dance in public?â
âThat depends...â then asking something thatâs a deal-breaker for you is a low-key way to talk about something you care about.
21âThe price of alternative nut milks.â
Similar to a rent joke, making a joke about the price of something literally being up is a wholesome way to start a conversation.
22âIâm sure you say that to everyone.â
Donât be afraid to be a little cheeky and call them out when necessary.
23âHow did you know thatâs the same line my grandfather used on my grandma?â
It doesnât have to be true to be funny.
24âIs that how you charm all of your matches?â
Youâre probably not the first person theyâve matched with, and depending on how the conversation goes, you might not be the last, either.
25â...And then they messaged me, âWhatâs up.â Isnât that romantic?... Sorry, just imagining how weâll tell our friends and family the story of how we first met.â
This oneâs a bit risky, so you might not want to pull it out unless youâre willing never to hear from the other person again.
26âWow, you really know how to sweep a person off their feet.â
Itâs a bit sassy, but the right person will appreciate a message like this.
27âHas anyone ever told you you have *such* a way with words?â
When it comes to boring messages, sarcasm is your best friend.
28âCome on, I know you can do better than that.â
Sometimes, all you need to do is apply a little pressure to make a match turn on the charm.
29âCongrats! Youâre the fifth match to ask me that today!â
And I oop.
30âIâd love to know what made you swipe right on me.â
Youâre on the apps for a reason, so you might as well cut right to the chase.
31âDonât make me regret using my rose on you.â
Hinge roses arenât given, theyâre earned.
32âWhy donât I tell you over drinks tonight?â
Itâs bold, but at least this way you can skip straight to an IRL meetup.
33âToo much to write it all out, but maybe I can tell you over dinner.â
If theyâre not going to take charge, then youâre gonna have to step up to the plate.
34âHavenât heard that one before.â
If theyâre going to send a dull message, they should expect some sarcasm in return.
35ââWhatâs up?â On a dating app? Groundbreaking.â
When in doubt, you can always pull inspiration from The Devil Wears Prada.
36âJust waiting for you to ask me on a date.â
If itâs the truth, then donât be afraid to go after what you want.
37âMessage not delivered. Try again.â
This gives the other person a second chance at sending a message with more personality.
38âIâll tell you whatâs up if you can make me laugh.â
This way, you can get an idea of what their sense of humor is like.
39âI was gonna ask you the same thing!â
Throw the ball back in their court and see how they like it.
40âNo offense, but your first message-game is weak.â
Tell it like it is.
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