missed connection
Ships passing unaware
A missed connection is a brief encounter with a stranger—on a subway, in a coffee shop, at a concert—where attraction or interest sparked but no contact information was exchanged.
The phrase names both the encounter itself and the personal ads seeking to find that person again: Missed connection: You were reading Borges on the L train. We made eye contact. Coffee?
The term plays on the transportation sense of missing a connecting flight or train.
Predetermined course of events
- destinyPredetermined course of events
- kismetPreordained future outcome
- coincidenceUnplanned matching of events
- chanceLikelihood of occurrence
timing · synchronicity · providence · universe · stars · happenstance · twist · alignment
Intense prolonged craving
- piningAching with prolonged desire
- wistfulnessTender sadness for absence
- what-ifHypothetical scenario query
- wonderingFeeling curiosity about something
ache · fantasy · daydream · imagining · hope · anticipation · curiosity · stranger
Free online classifieds site
- RedditSocial news aggregator
- classifiedRestricted from disclosure
- descriptionAccount of characteristics
- searchingLooking to find
reply · response · details · location · date · time · outfit · identifying
fate
Predetermined course of events
- destinyPredetermined course of events
- kismetPreordained future outcome
- coincidenceUnplanned matching of events
chance · timing · synchronicity · providence · universe · stars · happenstance · twist · alignment · fortune
yearning
Intense prolonged craving
- piningAching with prolonged desire
- wistfulnessTender sadness for absence
- what-ifHypothetical scenario query
wondering · ache · fantasy · daydream · imagining · hope · anticipation · curiosity · stranger · fleeting
Craigslist
Free online classifieds site
- RedditSocial news aggregator
- classifiedRestricted from disclosure
- descriptionAccount of characteristics
searching · reply · response · details · location · date · time · outfit · identifying · message
stranger
Person not yet known
bookstore · glance · smile · spark · attraction · chemistry · intrigue · mystery · commute · platform
remorse
Guilt for wrongdoing
- hindsightRecognition after the fact
- hesitationDelay from uncertainty
- silenceTotal lack of sound
shyness · timing · opportunity · courage · boldness · inaction · passivity · unspoken · words · approach
- flightsdeparture, arrival, nonstop flight, boarding, domestic flight
- classifiedswant ad, personal ad, job ad, pet ads, wanted ads
- travel experiencesroad trip, flight delay, turbulence, jet lag, scenic drive
- travel obstaclesroadblock, road closure, detour, traffic jam, gridlock
- travel troublesgetting lost, dead end, detour, flat tire, traffic jam
- travel woesjet lag, homesickness, lost luggage, flight delay, travel delay
missed connectionlove at first sight
Immediate romantic attraction to stranger
romance · relationship · meet-cute · deep connection · happily ever after
missed connectionperfect timing
Optimal moment selection
meant to be · serendipity · stars aligned · crossed paths · lucky break
miss, missed, missing, misses, connect, connected, connecting, connects, connection