Relationship Red Flags

adjective not quite right; inappropriate or out of place

adverb in a mistaken or faulty way

• There seems to be something amiss with the financial statements.
• I have a feeling that something is amiss with the new employee.
• I smell something fishy, definitely amiss here.
• Her smile was bright, but there was something amiss in her eyes.

noun a person who is in a state of despair; someone who is in a desperate situation

adjective feeling or showing a hopeless sense that a situation is so bad as to be impossible to deal with

• The desperate situation called for immediate action from the authorities.
• She was getting desperate waiting for a response to her job application.
• I'm so desperate for a snack right now, I could eat anything.
• His desperate attempt to win her back only pushed her further away.

noun a display or appearance that is not genuine or true

• The politician's promises turned out to be a false show of commitment to the people.
• Don't be fooled by his false show of sympathy, he doesn't really care.
• Her apology was just a false show, she doesn't mean it at all.
• The elaborate decorations were just a false show to distract from the true issues at hand.

adjective showing a lack of good sense or judgment; foolish

• His foolheaded decision to invest all his savings in a risky venture ultimately led to financial ruin.
• I can't believe you made such a foolheaded mistake by leaving your keys in the car.
• Stop being so foolheaded and listen to reason for once.
• Her foolheaded determination to prove everyone wrong drove her to achieve great success.

adjective subject to or characterized by change or variation; fickle

• Her inconstant behavior made it difficult to predict her actions.
• I can't keep up with his inconstant moods.
• She's so inconstant, always changing her mind.
• The inconstant weather made planning outdoor activities challenging.

adjective domineering or dictatorial in manner; arrogantly overbearing

• Her overbearing attitude made it difficult for the team to work together effectively.
• My overbearing boss is always micromanaging everything we do.
• I can't stand my mom's overbearing behavior, she's always up in my business.
• The weight of his overbearing presence in the room was palpable, stifling any chance of open conversation.

noun a person who is lazy and messy in their habits

• The unkempt individual was often referred to as a slob due to their disheveled appearance.
• My roommate is such a slob, leaving dirty dishes all over the place.
• Don't be a slob and clean up after yourself!
• His sloppy work habits made him a slob in the eyes of his boss.

noun a long limbless reptile that has no eyelids, a short tail, and jaws that are capable of considerable extension

preposition a word governing, and usually preceding, a noun or pronoun and expressing a relation to another word or element in the clause

• Beware of individuals who may act like a snake in the grass, hiding their true intentions.
• I always keep an eye out for that snake in the grass who tries to cause trouble.
• Don't trust him, he's a total snake in the grass.
• The competitor proved to be a snake in the grass, waiting to sabotage our project.

verb to assume that something will always be there or will always be done without thinking about it

preposition used together to form a phrasal verb meaning to not appreciate or value something properly

• It is unwise to take for granted the stability of the economy.
• Don't take for granted the love and support of your family.
• I used to take my job for granted until I got laid off.
• She realized she had been taking her health for granted when she got sick.

noun A word that represents a person, place, thing, or idea. In this case, 'sign' is a noun that refers to an indication or evidence of something.

adjective A word that describes or modifies a noun. In this case, 'telltale' is an adjective that describes the type of sign as being revealing or indicative of something.

• The telltale sign of a well-run organization is its strong financial performance.
• The telltale sign that the party was a success was the empty chip bowls and full trash cans.
• Her nervous fidgeting was a telltale sign that she was lying.
• The dark clouds gathering on the horizon were a telltale sign of the storm approaching.

verb to deal with something as if it is of little value or importance

adjective of little value or importance

• The company refused to waste time on trifling matters and focused on important tasks.
• Stop worrying about trifling details and just enjoy the moment.
• I can't believe you're still hung up on that trifling ex-boyfriend of yours.
• Her trifling attempts at painting were no match for the skilled artists in the competition.

noun a person who deceives or betrays someone by pretending to be their friend

adjective describing someone who deceives or betrays others

• The company discovered that one of their employees was a two timer, having secretly worked for a competitor.
• I can't believe she's dating that two timer again, after what he did to her last time.
• Don't trust him, he's a total two timer when it comes to relationships.
• The politician was accused of being a two timer, promising one thing to the public and doing another behind closed doors.

adjective not willing to forgive or show mercy; severe or harsh in judgment

adverb in an unforgiving manner

• The desert can be an unforgiving environment for those unprepared for its harsh conditions.
• My boss is so unforgiving when it comes to deadlines.
• Dude, that teacher is straight up unforgiving with her grading.
• Time is unforgiving, it never stops for anyone.

adjective not genuine; fake or artificial

• Her ungenuine smile did not fool anyone at the business meeting.
• I can tell he's being ungenuine when he compliments me like that.
• Stop being so ungenuine, just be yourself.
• The painting looked beautiful from afar, but up close you could see the ungenuine brush strokes.

adjective describes an action or state that cannot be forgiven or excused

• His actions were deemed unpardonable by the court.
• I can't believe he did something so unpardonable.
• That was totally unpardonable, dude.
• Betraying a friend like that is an unpardonable sin.

noun a man who engages in numerous casual sexual relationships with women

• The tabloids accused him of being a womanizer, constantly seen with different women at social events.
• I heard he's a bit of a womanizer, always flirting with the ladies at the bar.
• He's known around town as a real womanizer, can't seem to stay faithful to anyone.
• In the world of politics, he's considered a womanizer for his ability to charm and manipulate people to get what he wants.

noun a person who is easily deceived or tricked

verb to deceive or trick someone into believing something that is not true

• It is not ethical to play someone for a fool in a professional setting.
• Don't think you can play me for a fool and get away with it.
• She thought she could play him for a fool, but he caught on quickly.
• Trying to deceive him was like trying to play a seasoned detective for a fool.

noun wall - a vertical structure that divides or encloses an area

verb a word that expresses an action or a state of being

adverb a word that modifies a verb, adjective, or another adverb

preposition a word that shows the relationship between a noun (or pronoun) and other words in a sentence

article a word that specifies a noun, such as 'the' or 'a'

• It is important for us to see the writing on the wall and adapt our business strategies accordingly.
• Dude, you need to see the writing on the wall and start looking for a new job.
• I told her she needs to see the writing on the wall before it's too late.
• Sometimes we need to see the writing on the wall to understand the implications of our actions.

noun a blend of the words neglect and exit, referring to a situation where someone neglects to exit a place or situation

verb to neglect to exit a place or situation

• The company's neglexit of their environmental responsibilities led to public backlash.
• She always seems to neglexit her chores until the last minute.
• Don't be a neglexit and forget to pick up the pizza on your way home.
• His constant neglexit of his health eventually caught up with him.

noun a person who uses excessive affection and attention to manipulate and control their partner in a romantic relationship

• The love bomber used excessive praise and attention to manipulate their partner.
• Watch out for that love bomber, they might be trying to control you with affection.
• I heard she's a total love bomber, always showering her boyfriend with gifts and compliments.
• The politician was a master love bomber, using charm and flattery to win over voters.

noun a manipulative tactic used in abusive relationships where one person overwhelms the other with excessive displays of affection and attention

verb to engage in the manipulative tactic of love bombing

• Love bombing is a manipulative tactic used by some individuals to gain control over others by showering them with excessive affection and attention.
• I heard she's been love bombing him with gifts and compliments to win him over.
• She's totally love bombing him to get what she wants.
• The company's marketing team is love bombing their customers with promotional emails.

noun streak

verb a word that expresses an action, occurrence, or state of being

adjective a word that describes or modifies a noun or pronoun

article a word that specifies a noun as definite or indefinite

• It has been observed that some individuals have a mean streak when it comes to dealing with others in the workplace.
• I've noticed that Tom can have a mean streak sometimes, especially when he's stressed out.
• Watch out for Sarah, she can really show her mean streak when she's in a bad mood.
• Despite his charming exterior, deep down he has a mean streak that can come out unexpectedly.

noun a game in which a flat stone is thrown across water so as to skip over the surface several times before sinking

verb to treat something casually or irresponsibly; to waste or squander something

• It is unprofessional to play ducks and drakes with company funds.
• Don't play ducks and drakes with your money, be responsible.
• Stop playing ducks and drakes with your resources, it's reckless.
• She felt like he was playing ducks and drakes with her emotions, never fully committing.

noun a word that represents a person, place, thing, or idea

verb a word that expresses an action or state of being

preposition a word that shows the relationship between a noun (or pronoun) and other words in a sentence

article a word that is used to indicate whether a noun is specific or nonspecific

• As we analyze the data further, we must wait for the other shoe to drop before drawing any conclusions.
• I heard there's more to the story, so I'm just waiting for the other shoe to drop.
• I know something's up, just waiting for the other shoe to drop.
• After the scandal broke out, everyone is just waiting for the other shoe to drop.

noun A slang term for a person, typically a woman, who is overly possessive or jealous in a romantic relationship, often exhibiting controlling or manipulative behavior.

• The woman was labeled a 'bunny boiler' after she was caught stalking her ex-boyfriend.
• I heard she's a real bunny boiler, always checking up on her ex's social media.
• She's such a bunny boiler, she's always causing drama in relationships.
• Her jealousy and possessiveness made her the ultimate bunny boiler in their relationship.

noun a word that refers to a person, place, thing, event, substance, or quality

adjective a word that describes or gives more information about a noun

• Textual harassment is a serious issue that can have legal consequences.
• I can't believe she's still dealing with that textual harassment from her ex.
• Textual harassment is never okay, no matter what.
• The constant barrage of messages felt like a form of textual harassment.

adverb modifies a verb, adjective, or another adverb to indicate manner, time, place, or degree

• The employee was accused of using company resources abusively.
• She was yelling abusively at her children.
• He was driving abusively on the highway.
• The politician abusively attacked his opponent during the debate.