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Telling someone you like them is hard enough—but what do you do after you’ve been rejected? Getting stuck in the friend zone after expressing your feelings can be a bummer, but don’t worry: there are things you can try to exit the friend zone and enter the relationship zone. Keep reading to learn how you can convince your crush that you’re relationship material even after they shoot you down.

1

Give your crush some space.

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  1. If you used to see your crush every day, aim for a few times a week. If you two used to text each other all day every day, try to only reply every couple of hours. If you push yourself onto your crush and try to be around them all the time, it might have the opposite effect of what you want. Usually, pulling back can make someone realize what they might have missed out on.[1]
    • You can use this time to focus on yourself. Try diving into your hobbies or nurturing your friendships with other people that you might have been ignoring.
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2

Busy yourself with other things.

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  1. You don’t need to ignore them completely, but tell them you have other plans, then see if they can hang out later.[2] If you make it seem like you’re off having fun without them and really enjoying your life, they might just think about what they’re missing (which is exactly what you want).
    • Even if you aren’t out having the time of your life, you can make it seem like you are. Don’t lie outright, but just tell your crush that you’re really busy and you can’t hang out this week.
3

Tell your crush that other people are interested in you.

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5

Ask them for favors.

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6

Be a little flirty.

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7

Focus on the things you have in common.

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  1. When you hang out with your crush, talk about the TV shows you both like or suggest doing something related to your hobbies. If your crush realizes that you’re actually very compatible, they might just be open to trying out a relationship with you.[7]
    • You might even say things like, “Wow, we have so much in common, it’s crazy!”
    • Reader Poll: We asked 690 wikiHow readers what conversation topics they like to bring up with their crush, and 62% of them said hobbies and fun things they’ve done recently. [Take Poll]
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8

Ask your crush to hang out one on one.

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  1. Instead, ask your crush to hang out with you and only you so you can spend some quality time together. You can still see your mutual friends, but make sure you’re making time just for the two of you as well. That way, you can chat and get to know your crush on a deeper, more intimate level.[8]
    • When you two do hang out, try doing “date-like” activities, like going out to dinner or watching a movie together.
    • However, don’t pressure your crush to hang out with you alone if they don’t want to. After you’ve told them that you like them, they might only want to hang out in groups for a little while, which is okay.
9

Break the touch barrier.

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  1. Light, flirty touches like these can bring you from “friend” over to “potential crush” in their minds. If your crush just told a funny joke, touch them on the arm as you laugh your head off. If they’re telling you something sweet, pat them on the hand or on the back. Doing this a couple of times might just get them thinking about you in another way.[9]
    • If your crush ever pulls away or looks uncomfortable, don’t try to touch them again. Some people really don’t like being touched, and that’s okay.
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10

Tell your crush how grateful you are for them.

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Join the Discussion...

WikiGopherJumper245
39
I’m a guy and I have been best friends with this girl since childhood. I’ve always kind of had a little bit of a crush on her, and I think sh... Read More
WikiRiverWatcher831
If the two of you have never had a conversation about dating one another and it’s not something that might be on the table, I’d suggest stayi... Read More
WikiGibbonCaster128
I'm going to speak from my personal experience here. I've confessed my feelings to my childhood best friend twice now. Once when we were kids and... Read More

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About This Article

Suzanna Mathews
Co-authored by:
Dating & Relationship Coach
This article was co-authored by Suzanna Mathews and by wikiHow staff writer, Hannah Madden. Suzanna Mathews is a Dating and Relationship Coach and the Founder of The Date Maven. With over a decade of experience, she specializes in creating mindset tools, social strategies, and digital strategies that help her clients elevate dating and deepen connections. Suzanna holds a BA in Communications from Bethel College, North Newton, and an MA in Theater and Dramatic Arts from Wichita State University. This article has been viewed 52,013 times.
23 votes - 62%
Co-authors: 3
Updated: August 2, 2024
Views: 52,013
Categories: Social Interactions
Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 52,013 times.

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