New slang terms pop up all the time, especially when it comes to dating. Some of the popular ones we now use all the time include “cuffing season,” and “ghosting,” and now there’s a new one with a name that’s just as gross as what it means. “Roaching” - yep, like the bugs - is the latest dating trend to be on the lookout for.
So what does it mean? “Roaching” is another word for sleeping around with a bunch of people at once, but it’s done in secret so their partner has no idea about the other hidden sex partners. The person doing the sleeping around is “roaching” and their partner is being “roached.” Matchmaker Susan Trombetti explains, “The term comes from the ickiness of seeing one of these nasty little bugs, but knowing when you turn the lights on, there are lots of them.”
The upside? Trombetti says there are some pretty clear signs when you’re being roached:
- They don’t make or keep plans - She says someone who is roaching will often wait for “better” plans to come along, like with someone else they’re sleeping with.
- They don’t want to get serious - It’s a red flag if they won’t define the relationship or talk about exclusivity at all, according to this expert. If they put off the talk and they’re sleeping with someone else, they’re not technically breaking any rules, but it becomes a problem if they’re hiding the situation.
- They flat out tell you they want to keep it casual - Even if it feels like more than a hookup or a friends with benefits situation, Trombetti warns that when someone expresses their desire to “keep it casual” it’s a clear sign things aren’t getting serious and there may be other people involved.
Source: In Style