How to Hint For a Kiss (Guys)

Co-authored by Laura Bilotta and Hannah Madden

Last Updated: March 8, 2024 References

Hinting for a kiss, if done right, can be a solid way to let a person know you're interested. Although first kisses are intimidating, there's no better feeling than sharing such an intimate moment with someone you really like. If you want to hint at a kiss from someone but you aren’t sure how, try complimenting them, leaning in close, and finding a private spot for you two so that you can share a kiss with the person you like.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Creating an Opportunity to Kiss

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1
Find a spot where you two can be alone. If you are hanging out around a group of people or in a crowded area, try asking the person you want to kiss to head to a more secluded spot. This will send the message that you want to be alone with them, while also getting you two into an area that a kiss could happen.^{[1]
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- Try asking them to be alone by saying: “Hey, do you want to take a walk with me really quick?”
If you two are talking about something and a natural lull happens, use this as an opportunity to hint at a kiss. Try to keep the conversation paused and don’t bring up any new subjects. Silence can hint at a kiss and leave an opportunity for one.^{[2]
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Tip: Try to keep your conversation light and playful. You can even flirt with the person you want to kiss to hint at it more.

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Look deeply into their eyes. This will send a message that you’d like to kiss them. Make eye contact and keep your expression neutral. This might feel awkward to you, but your kissing partner will probably find it romantic.^{[3]
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- You can even look at their lips and then back up to their eyes again to get your message across.
4
Linger when it is time to say goodbye. If your time with the person you want to kiss is coming to an end, this could be a perfect opportunity to kiss. Don’t rush into leaving or walking away; instead, prolong your farewells.^{[4]
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- Try saying things like, “Well, I had a great time. Did you?” or, “Would you want to hang out again sometime?”
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Whisper something in their ear to get close to them. Bringing your face closer to the person you want to kiss will both send a message that you like them and give you two an opportunity to kiss. Try to find something flirty and cute to whisper in their ear.^{[5]
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- You could say, “I have a secret to tell you!” and then whisper, “You look really beautiful tonight.”
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Start leaning in with your head slightly tilted. If you haven’t hinted enough already, leaning in to the person you want to kiss will get your message across for sure.^{[6]
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Expert Source

Laura Bilotta
Dating Coach & Matchmaker

Expert Interview. 4 March 2020.} Tilt your head slightly to the side to prepare for your kiss and see if your partner leans in too.^{[7]
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- If the person you want to kiss leans back or moves away from you, they probably aren’t ready to kiss you, and that’s okay.
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Ask for permission if you aren’t sure. If you’ve been getting mixed signals or you aren’t sure that your hinting has worked, be direct and ask them specifically if they’d like to kiss you. This can be a great way to show that you are respectful of their boundaries and that you want to make them feel comfortable.^{[8]
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- Say, “Can I kiss you?” If the answer is yes, go for it!
- Reader Poll: We asked 1942 wikiHow readers who've gone in for the kiss, and only 8% of them agreed that the best way to know when to do it is when your date touches you. [Take Poll] Asking for permission is much more straightforward than trying to rely on body language alone.

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Being Flirty

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1
Make eye contact with them to create intimacy. Eye contact lets a person know that you see them and that they are being heard. It can also draw people closer together.^{[9]
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Expert Source

Laura Bilotta
Dating Coach & Matchmaker

Expert Interview. 4 March 2020.} As you talk or flirt with the person you want to kiss, make sure you are looking directly into their eyes as much as possible.^{[10]
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- Try to sit across from them so that it’s easier to make eye contact, or look at them often if you are walking next to them.
2
Touch them on the hand or knee to break the physical barrier. To let someone know you are interested in them, try putting your hand on their knee or holding their hand. It will be much easier to hint at a kiss if you two have already broken the physical barrier in other ways.^{[11]
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Expert Source

Laura Bilotta
Dating Coach & Matchmaker

Expert Interview. 4 March 2020.}
- If you are sitting close to each other, you can even put your arm around their shoulders.
3
Play with their hair to get close to them. If you want to decrease the distance between you two, try twirling a strand of their hair in between your fingers. Don’t pull hard or hurt them, but gently stroke a piece of hair while noting how soft it is. This will let them know that you’re interested in being close to them.^{[12]
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- If the person you like has short hair, this might be a little bit too awkward to try.
Kissing is all in the lips, so try to subtly bring your partner’s eyes toward them. Lick your lips with the tip of your tongue or bite your bottom lip to have the person you want to kiss start thinking about your mouth.^{[13]
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Tip: Don’t stick your tongue out too far, or you could come off as creepy.
5
Compliment their lips to be direct. If you’d like to hint not-so-subtly that you want to kiss someone, tell them that their lips look soft. This will send a clear message that you want to kiss them, but still leaves it open-ended.^{[14]
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- If they are wearing lipstick or gloss, say, “That color looks great on you!” If not, try saying, “Your lips look super soft.”
6
Avoid pushing someone out of their comfort zone. No one likes to be pressured into doing something, especially on a first kiss with someone.^{[15]
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Expert Source

Laura Bilotta
Dating Coach & Matchmaker

Expert Interview. 4 March 2020.} If the timing feels wrong or your kissing partner looks uncomfortable, save kissing for another time.
- The person you want to kiss might feel weird if you are around other people or if they haven’t kissed anyone before.

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How do I make the first move for a kiss?

Laura Bilotta
Dating Coach & Matchmaker
Laura Bilotta is a Dating Coach, Matchmaker, and the Founder of Single in the City, her dating and relationship coaching service based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. With over 18 years of experience, she focuses on helping singles date more intentionally, encouraging them to let go of negative patterns so that they can attract the love that they deserve. Her experience, skills, and insights have led to thousands of successfully united over 65,000 singles through events and one-on-one matchmaking coaching sessions. She has been the host of The Dating and Relationship Show on Global News Radio 640 Toronto (AM640) for 6 years and is known as The Hookup Queen of Clubhouse; her popular singles club, Single in the City, has over 95.5K members who regularly join in weekly dating and relationship-focused rooms.

Laura Bilotta

Dating Coach & Matchmaker

Expert Answer

Try leaning in to let the other person know that you want to kiss them. If they want to as well, they'll lean in to meet you.

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Tips

Remember that the person you want to kiss is probably nervous too!

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If you think a kiss might happen, freshen your breath by chewing gum or eating a mint beforehand.

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