13 Things Guys Say Vs. What They Actually Mean

I’m not completely clueless when it comes to guys, but there’s still a part of me that just has no fucking clue what the hell they want. Not to generalize, but generally, guys are not the best communicators, particularly when it comes to relationships.

As I wander blindly through the land known as adult relationships, I seem to pick up on some of their language along the way, probably because the guys I am usually dating are not only bad communicators, but they are either really bad at hiding what they really mean or just don’t care. Either way, when you date a guy who just doesn’t seem to be putting his heart or effort into the relationship (or maybe they just are worried about upsetting you), they tell you what they think you want to hear instead of giving you what you really want: the truth.

Now because I am in fact a woman, I can’t possibly hold all of the answers to the man’s mind. So I recruited a close guy friend of mine to help me decode some common phrases men usually spew at women in a relationship setting and what they really mean. This is a guy that I have physically witnessed rejecting women, and he was pretty damn honest and straightforward about it, so I’m not completely sure that he’s a reliable source, but alas, he is a male and has the mind of a male.

Let’s crack this code:

1. He says: “I don’t want a relationship.”

What he means: 

“I don’t want a relationship with you.”

2. He says: “I don’t want to hurt you.”

What he means:

“I don’t give a shit about you, never really gave a shit about you, I’m just hoping to squeeze out of this one easily.”/ “I’m sick of being with you, but I don’t dislike you so hopefully you won’t key my car cause you’re pissed off.”

3. He says: “Sorry, I was busy.”

What he means:

“I was playing video games.”/ “I made a point to not even read your text message when I got it three hours ago.”

4. He says: “We have a good thing going and I don’t think we should put a label on it.”

What he means:

“We have an okay thing going and I still want to flirt with other girls.”

5. He says: “I’m not interested.”

What he means:

“I’m really not fricken interested.”