12 Signs You're in the Friend Zone

Today we're going to learn about 12 signs you're in the friend zone. Now let's begin:

Number One: Carefree Clothing

Does your crush dress up around you? When you like someone, you want to look your best. You want them to see your best qualities, so you invest time and effort into your appearance. You may dolly yourself up for your crush, but how do you dress around friends and family? You're not trying to attract their attention, so you don't put nearly as much effort into your appearance.

So just think about this: How does your crush dress around you? The way they dress tells you if they think of you as a friend or something more. If they spruce themselves up and show themselves off, then they want you to notice them. They think of you as a potential partner. But if they couldn't care less what they look like, you may be in the friend zone.

Number Two: Ignoring the Obvious

Have you tried to make advances in the past? Maybe you confessed your feelings and your crush didn't take you seriously. Maybe you asked them out on a date, but your crush made an excuse to cancel. Despite your several attempts to move the relationship forward, your crush has ignored and rebuffed you at every turn.

So if your crush isn't returning your advances, then you're in the friend zone. If your crush likes you, your feelings would be mutual. You wouldn't feel ignored or rejected because your crush would make the same advances toward you. But that's not what's happening. Instead, you're stepping forward, and your crush is stepping back. In their mind, you're just a friend, so it may be time for you to move on.

Number Three: Zero Calls

Does your crush call you on the phone? Texting is the most common and convenient way we communicate these days, but texting is casual and impersonal. You don't sound like yourself because, hey, there's only so much you can say in a text message.

If you want to talk to someone you like, you want to hear the sound of their voice. You want to call them and talk on the phone, but what if your crush doesn't return the favor? If you and your crush only talk over text, they may think of you as a friend. They may not treasure your conversation the way you do. You want to hear their voice, but they may not want to hear yours. If that's the case, then you're stuck deep in the friend zone.

Number Four: Playing Matchmaker

If someone's interested in you, there's one thing they would never, ever do, and that's set you up. They're saving you for themselves, so why would they ever help you find love anywhere else? On the other hand, friends want to help their friends find love.

If you're in the friend zone, your crush may try to play matchmaker. They'll rave about how perfect you and her friend would be together, or maybe they set you up on a blind date. Either way, your friend is nudging you in a different direction. They want you to find romance with someone else.

Number Five: Familial Comfort

Your crush's friends and family give away how your crush really feels about you. Chances are your crush has talked to your friends and family about you behind closed doors. These people know what she thinks about you and they change their behavior accordingly.

So why is this important? Because the way her friends and family act around you will tell you everything you need to know. All right, let's say they seem casual and comfortable around you. That's not a good sign. If you meet your crush's family for the very first time and they don't pay attention to you, you may not be someone special to your crush. If you were, they'd take a special interest in you. They'd seem nervous, they'd get overly personal, and they'd ask you questions and want to get to know you.

You may even overhear her friends teasing her about you. All of these things are positive signs that your crush has feelings for you. But if you don't notice anything out of the ordinary, you're probably in the friend zone.

Number Six: Vocal Interest

Does she talk to you about the people she likes? This big red flag can be devastating for anyone in the friend zone. No one wants their crush to fawn over someone else. You want them to fawn over you, right?

If you're in the friend zone, she may talk about her crushes without realizing anything's wrong. In her mind, you're her best guy friend. You're not a potential partner. Your name isn't even in the conversation, so she doesn't think twice about spilling her feelings. If this situation sounds familiar, you're in the friend zone. But you don't have to sit there and listen to your crush talk about her crush. Tell her that you don't want to talk about it. Be vocal and set boundaries. If you stand up for yourself, she may realize you want to be more than friends, and that realization just might change her mind.

Number Seven: Never Alone Time

Do you and your crush spend time alone together? If you're in the friend zone, your crush will avoid one-on-one activities. She'll find reasons to bring her friends or organize group activities, even if you're hoping for some much-needed time alone.

If you're stuck in this position, I've got some bad news for you. Your crush knows that you're interested. Maybe you've made advances in the past. Maybe you've been giving off signals without realizing it. Your crush has picked up on your interest, and now they're trying to avoid it. They don't want to spend time alone with you because they don't want to be anything more than friends. That's why they bring along friends to use them as a buffer. In group settings, you can spend time together without crossing into romantic territory.

Number Eight: Friendly Adjectives

How does your crush describe you? When he or she gives you a compliment, what adjectives do they use to capture your character? Adjectives like attractive, funny, and beautiful show genuine romantic interest. If your crush uses words like these, well, there's a good chance they're attracted to you. But not all compliments show signs of romantic interest. Words like silly and cute suck the romance right out of the conversation.

Think about it this way: If her compliments could describe a puppy or any other adorable animal, you're in the friend zone.

Number Nine: Boyfriend Chores

Do you play the boyfriend role more often than you should? Many guys, when they're caught in the friend zone, go out of their way for the people they like. You have the responsibilities of a partner, but you're not their partner. You're just a friend. This toxic dynamic develops more often than it should.

And here's why: You're willing to cross any boundary for your crush. Deep down, you're hoping the tides will turn one day. You think she'll see you as boyfriend material. If she's asking you for unreasonable favors, you're already in the friend zone. She doesn't see you as a potential partner. That's why she doesn't mind asking you for favors, even if it's not your responsibility.

Number Ten: The Eye Roll

Does your crush laugh at your jokes? This is a very common sign of romantic interest. When you like someone, you think they're the funniest person in the world. You want to be closer to them, you want to bond with them, so you laugh at their jokes to create a stronger connection.

If your crush doesn't like you, they won't be laughing. They don't think you're the funniest person in the world because they're not attracted to you. So instead of laughing, they'll ignore you or roll their eyes. They don't want to get closer to you. They don't have a crush on you, so those romantic giggles are nowhere to be found.

Number Eleven: Clear Confessions

Have you ever made your feelings clear? Have you ever expressed your feelings out loud? This happens to plenty of people. They overthink every little sign and signal. They relish each and every tiny moment between them and their crush, but your crush may not know how you feel about them. They may be seeing things completely different.

All right, let's say you're sitting close to each other one night over dinner. Your hands are nearly touching, and in that moment, you see the early signs of romance. But she may not think twice about it. In her eyes, you're just friends who happen to be sitting close to each other.

So unless you've summoned the courage to confess your feelings, there's a really good chance you're still in the friend zone. But there is an answer. The best thing you can do is take action. Don't bottle up your feelings any longer. If you do, you're going to get deeper and deeper into the friend zone. Now, as challenging as it sounds, it's time to make your move. Don't wait for the perfect moment. Just summon the courage and tell her how you feel. A clear and straightforward confession will tell you exactly where you stand.

Number Twelve: Loaded Introductions

When your crush introduces you to someone, what do they call you? Do they say, "This is my friend," or do they introduce you as just you? Believe it or not, the latter is far and away the better option. If she calls you her friend, that's exactly what you are. You're in the friend zone. The title "friend" puts you into a category you may never escape from. No matter what you do, she may always see you as just another one of her friends.

So listen closely the next time she introduces you to someone. If she calls you her friend, you may need to move on. But if she calls you anything else, you're not as deep in the friend zone as you think.

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