Benching
BehaviorKeeping someone as a backup option without committing or fully cutting them off.
What it means
Benching is dating's version of keeping a player on reserve. The bencher maintains light contact — occasional texts, infrequent dates — to keep the option alive, without ever escalating. The benched person is in the rotation but not the priority. It's structurally similar to breadcrumbing but with slightly more activity and ambiguity.
Related terms
Make the first impression the easy part.
Turn the photo you have into a better photo or a short video. Still you, on a good day.