When looking for The One, many of us have a thing or two that we simply can’t stand.
They aren’t red flags per se; rather quirks, habits or lifestyle choices that just don’t sit well with you, for one reason or another.
Some of these dealbreakers centre around serious topics – like whether they want children or marriage – while others may seem insignificant or surface-level.
Either way though, they signal incompatibility – and could mean a first date becomes the last.
In a recent viral X thread which hit 2.1 million views, hundreds of people have been sharing the unique dealbreakers that’d put paid to a potential relationship.
And there’s a solid chance at least one of them applies to you…
Pets
Prepare to be offended animal lovers, because it turns out your love for your furry friend could be a dealbreaker for more than a few dates.
On X, @nazbetweeting shared her ‘controversial’ no no, writing: ‘We can’t be in a relationship if you have a dog. Sorry. Having one would kill my lifestyle that I enjoy lol.
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‘Wdym I can’t go on a trip w my partner because no one can watch the dog? Wdym we can’t spend the whole day and night out because we have to go home and feed the dog? No thanks.’
Many agreed that a dog was their dealbreaker too, but it wasn’t just canines that were in the firing line.
‘No cats or dogs actually, because I’m literally allergic!,’ @T_rashy_b wrote. ‘Will have my eyes swelling up with me sneezing and everything. Animals are great, but I cannot deal with them for my own health.’
‘It’s definitely cats for me,’ added another. ‘I absolutely cannot date someone who owns a cat, that’s the biggest deal breaker it comes right after being broke and still living with parents.’
Hamsters and rabbits were also on people’s lists of furry passion-killers, but some had a totally opposite viewpoint, including @MissKiraJade who wrote: ‘If you can’t make room for a pet that gives you unconditional love and affection, how will you make room for another human with needs/wants/goals of their own? What if we wanted kids?’
@gardeningbabe felt the same, adding: ‘Some men hate cats and it’s always been a red flag. You can’t handle something that doesn’t immediately love you that you have to be gentle with? Bye.’
How you were raised
Everyone’s upbringing is different, but there are some fundamentals many of us can’t seem to look past when it comes to dating – and overbearing parents are an almost-unanimous dealbreaker.
One X user, @caityfh, wrote: ‘I don’t want my S/O’s mother’s opinion on my life choices. If my own mum doesn’t get to dictate my life, your mum doesn’t either. It’s made me avoid mumma’s boys like a plague.’
‘Being close w/ their family is nice,’ added @grace_mac. ‘However, still letting their parents make their decisions and dictate how they spend their time and guilt them into stuff? That’s a big no from me.’
Parents are also responsible for teaching you to become a fully-functioning adult, something many people feel not every potential date has learned.
One, @IliMIli, said her turn-off it when someone ‘isn’t at least decent at cleaning.’ She added: ‘I don’t expect constant spotlessness but a consistently grimy bathroom/kitchen/etc is a no for me. Clean often and clean it well.’
When it comes to manners, @chanceposts wrote: ‘Don’t know how unpopular it is, but lack of respect or compassion for others – service workers, waitstaff, people in the store. I don’t care if you’re super respectful of me; if you’re rude to others, it’s a no from me.’
Lifestyle choices
Everyone should have the right to choose how they live their own life, but that means there will be some people whose values don’t align with yours.
But there were some pretty niche dealbreakers on the list relating to lifestyle.
For @katyaniomi it was: ‘Someone who doesn’t want to live in a major city – if I don’t have 10 coffee shops within a 1km radius I don’t know what I’d do with myself.’
Holidays could also impact your date potential apparently. @sharon_NJ_Gafka wrote: ‘Someone obsessed with going to Ibiza, especially if they’re in their 30s.’
On the opposite end of the spectrum, @Brittle_urbs had a problem with the nature lover type, writing: ‘I could not date someone who is super outdoorsy. I hate hiking, camping, fishing, swimming in lakes and hunting.’
Meanwhile, @AndrewHilaryUS wasn’t a fan of ‘every day weed smoking,’ writing: ‘It’s just a mismatch of vibes that is unsustainable.’
Other things that would put people off a second date included ‘coughing without covering your mouth’, not loving music, gambling, gaming and drinking.
Did yours make the list?
Do you have a story to share?
Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@Metro.co.uk.