You meet a guy, and you think he’s pretty great.
He’s smart, funny, and attractive, and you’re hoping he likes you just as much as you like him.
But as you start to talk and flirt, you begin to wonder if he’s playing hard to get or if he’s just not that into you.
It’s annoying because shouldn’t we be the ones playing hard to get?
Aren’t men supposed to be the pursuers while women are the ones who have to wait and see if they’re interested?
Well, it’s not always the case, as some men also play hard to get.
How can you tell if he’s playing hard to get or if he’s not interested?
Here are some signs to look for:
9 Signs He’s Playing Hard to Get
1. He’s always busy.
To be fair, we live in a busy world, and many people simply don’t have the time or energy to date.
But a guy who is truly interested in you will make time for you and try to find little ways to spend time with you.
A guy who is playing hard to get will always be too busy to hang out.
He might say he’s swamped with work, has plans with friends, or is taking care of family obligations.
While it’s possible that he’s legitimately busy, if he consistently puts you off, it could be a sign that he’s not interested or that he’s trying to make you chase him.
2. He’s hot and cold.
Mixed signals are a classic sign that someone is playing hard to get.
They’re interested in you, but they don’t want to seem too eager or desperate.
So act hot one minute and cold the next, making it difficult to tell if they actually like you or not.
A guy who plays hard to get will be unpredictable and hard to read.
One moment he’s flirting with you; the next, he’s ignoring you.
He’ll give you lots of attention one day and then act aloof the next, leaving you confused and wondering if you did something wrong.
If this pattern continues, he might be playing games with your emotions.
3. He takes a while to respond to your texts or calls.
In today’s world of instant communication, there’s no excuse for a guy to take days to respond to your text or call.
If he’s playing hard to get, he might take hours or even days to respond to your texts and calls.
He wants you to think that he’s busy with other things, so he won’t make it easy for you to get ahold of him.
He might even disappear for long stretches of time, only to resurface when you least expect it.
If he’s taking his sweet time to get back to you, it might be a sign that he’s trying to make you work for his attention.
4. He flirts with other women
If a guy is truly into you, he won’t be flirting with other women.
But if he’s playing hard to get, it might be a different story.
He might try to make you jealous by talking to or even dating other women in front of you as if he doesn’t care how you feel.
He could also be flaunting his other female friends in your face as if to make you think that he has plenty of options.
He’s doing this to make you compete for his affection.
5. He doesn’t commit to plans
If a guy is into you, he will be excited to make plans with you and take the time to figure out what works for both of your schedules.
But if he’s playing hard to get, it will be different.
He won’t plan too far ahead, and he won’t commit to anything.
He might make excuses or dodge your questions about where, when, and how long you’ll be getting together.
So if a guy is constantly making it hard for you to make plans with him, he’s definitely playing hard to get.
6. He tests you
A guy who is playing hard to get might try to test your feelings for him.
He might do things like give you the silent treatment, ignore you, or even insult you in order to see how you react.
If he sees that you’re still interested, no matter what he does, he might take it as a sign that you’re into him and use it to his advantage.
So if he’s constantly testing your patience or pushing your buttons, he might be playing hard to get.
It might be time to call him out on it and see how he responds.
7. He’s always teasing you
One of the classic signs that someone is playing hard to get is that they tease you a lot.
This could include making jokes at your expense, talking about how you don’t match up to other people, or flirting with you but never taking it any further.
It’s his way of keeping you interested without actually having to commit to anything.
So if a guy is constantly teasing you and never taking things to the next level, the dude is playing hard to get.
8. He’s mysterious
Another sign that a guy might be playing hard to get is he comes off as mysterious.
He won’t tell you much about himself and will rarely open up and show his true feelings.
He also might be very vague and elusive when you try to get to know him better.
He’ll leave you hanging with questions and never give you a straight answer.
9. He doesn’t want any labels
Finally, if a guy is playing hard to get, he might not want any labels in your relationship.
He won’t commit to anything and will avoid talking about what you two mean to each other.
He wants the freedom to do whatever he wants without having to explain himself or worry about upsetting you.
These are all common signs that a guy is playing hard to get with you.
If you notice any of these behaviors in a guy you like, it might be time to call him out on his games and see what he has to say.
Adults who know what they want don’t play games.
So be aware of any potential red flags and proceed with caution.