blind date
/blaɪnd deɪt/
CommonA date with someone you've never met, usually arranged by a mutual friend or app.
The 'blind' part is about not knowing who the person is beforehand, not about literally not seeing them. Used with a mix of excitement, nervousness, and self-deprecating humor.
Real-world examples4 examples
| # | Example | What it means | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | my coworker set me up on a blind date and i was nervous the whole drive there | A colleague arranged a date with someone the speaker had never met. | reddit, 2024 |
| 02 | technically every hinge date is a blind date at this point lol | Meeting strangers from dating apps is functionally the same as old-school blind dates. | x, 2024 |
| 03 | the blind date was going fine until he mentioned his ex four times in ten minutes | The date started okay but quickly showed warning signs. | tiktok, 2023 |
| 04 | i agreed to a blind date and then stalked his linkedin for an hour before showing up | The speaker agreed to meet a stranger but did research beforehand to reduce the uncertainty. | x, 2024 |
Use it when
- Someone is going on a date with a stranger arranged by another person.
- Meeting someone from an app for the first time in person.
- Describing the anxiety or anticipation of meeting an unknown date.
Do not use it when
- You mean a date you planned yourself with someone you know.
- You just mean a first date in general.Use “first date” instead.
Blind date vs speed dating
blind date
A blind date is a single, extended meeting with one stranger, usually arranged by someone.
VS
speed-dating
Speed dating is a structured event with many brief back-to-back conversations.
Origin and context
The term dates back to at least the mid-20th century in American English, used to describe arranged dates where neither party had seen the other beforehand.
- First seen
- mid-20th century
- Confidence
- medium
Cite this page
Use this stable URL to reference the entry.
https://slang.fyi/blind-dateUpdated: 2026-08-29License: CC BY 4.0