play hard to get
Act strategically aloof
To play hard to get is to feign disinterest in someone's romantic or sexual advances, typically to increase one's desirability or test the pursuer's commitment.
The strategy assumes that what's easily obtained is valued less: She's definitely interested—she's just playing hard to get.
The phrase extends beyond romance to any negotiation where one party acts reluctant to seem more valuable.
- coquetTrifle with romantic interest
- feignPretend to have
- teaseMock playfully
- cat and mouseProlonged pursuit game
- flirtationPlayful romantic attention
courtship · manipulate · exclusivity · pursuit · love games · longing · delay · mystify · subtlety · withholding · coyness · impression management · ambiguity · desire · emotional unavailability · provoke · seduction · charm
play hard to getcome on strong
Act too forcefully
wear one's heart on one's sleeve · chase · make the first move · fawn over · jump at the chance
play hard to getlay one's cards on the table
Reveal one's true position
play hard to getpursue
Follow to catch
make the first move · take the initiative · go after · woo · court
play, plays, played, playing, player, players, playful, playfully, playfulness