playing the field
Romantically keeping options
Playing the field means pursuing romantic or sexual relationships with multiple people rather than committing to one partner.
The metaphor comes from sports—covering the whole field rather than staying in one position.
Someone who plays the field is dating around, keeping options open: He's not ready to settle down; he's still playing the field.
Not bound to anything
- unattachedNot joined or connected
- availableReady to be used
- optionsAvailable courses of action
- varietyState of being diverse
roving · fickle · heartbreaker · philanderer · lothario · coquette · polyamory · juggling
Playfully showing romantic interest
- singlesUnattached individuals
- bachelorUnwed male adult
- bacheloretteUnmarried woman
- minglingCasual social interaction
nightlife · bars · clubs · parties · hookup · attraction · chemistry · crush
Freedom from external control
- autonomyIndependent decision-making capacity
- choiceAct of selecting
- flexibilityAbility to adapt easily
- spontaneityActing without forethought
free-spirited · unbound · liberation · openness · self-determination · unfettered · latitude · leeway
Methods to achieve goals
- maneuveringSkillful directional control
- calculatingColdly self-serving in strategy
- positioningArranging in specific locations
- schemingCrafty and calculating
gameplan · hedging bets · weighing options · strategic · comparison · evaluating · assessing · leverage
uncommitted
Not bound to anything
- unattachedNot joined or connected
- availableReady to be used
- optionsAvailable courses of action
variety · roving · fickle · heartbreaker · philanderer · lothario · coquette · polyamory · juggling · stringing along
flirting
Playfully showing romantic interest
- singlesUnattached individuals
- bachelorUnwed male adult
- bacheloretteUnmarried woman
mingling · nightlife · bars · clubs · parties · hookup · attraction · chemistry · crush · texting
independence
Freedom from external control
- autonomyIndependent decision-making capacity
- choiceAct of selecting
- flexibilityAbility to adapt easily
spontaneity · free-spirited · unbound · liberation · openness · self-determination · unfettered · latitude · leeway · exploration
tactics
Methods to achieve goals
- maneuveringSkillful directional control
- calculatingColdly self-serving in strategy
- positioningArranging in specific locations
scheming · gameplan · hedging bets · weighing options · strategic · comparison · evaluating · assessing · leverage · advantage
- dating slangghosting, breadcrumbing, talking, situationship, cuffing
- casual datingfling, hookup, friends with benefits, FWB, one-night stand
- romancelove story, amor, love, boyfriend, courting
- innuendoinnuendo, sexual innuendo, double entendre, double meaning, implied meaning
- promiscuitypromiscuity, sleeping around, casual sex, hookups, one-night stands
- self-interestself-interest, selfishness, egoism, look out for number one, every man for himself
playing the fieldgoing steady
Dating one person exclusively
monogamous · committed · committed relationship · exclusive · faithful
play, playing, played, plays, player, players, playful, playfully, playfulness