The Ick List: 50 Icks and What They Say About You
The ick list is the running list of tiny, weirdly specific things that make you suddenly lose attraction to someone, like them running after a dropped ball or replying "k." Below are 50 icks sorted into texting, in-public and style icks, plus which ones are fair and when an ick is actually a red flag.
If an ick has you second-guessing someone you actually liked a week ago, Viralinc has an app that helps you work out where you really stand. Find where you stand
What the ick means
The ick meaning, in slang: a sudden "ew, nope" feeling about someone you were into. It is not a big betrayal. It is small, often silly, and hard to unsee.
The term blew up in the UK and Ireland (Love Island made it famous), then spread across TikTok, Instagram and Reddit. People now share "the ick list" memes, whole accounts post reader icks, and there is even an ick list book floating around. Everyone has their own list of icks, and part of the fun is realizing how random they are.
Getting the ick usually says more about your nerves and expectations than about the other person. Keep that in mind as you read.
Texting icks
The group chat's favorite category. Here are 15 texting icks people complain about most:
- Replying "k" or "ok." with a period.
- "Wyd" at 1am and nothing else, ever.
- Double-texting five times in a row after one unanswered message.
- Using "haha" in every single message, even sad ones.
- Sending voice notes that are four minutes long.
- Calling you "m'lady" unironically.
- "Good morning beautiful" copy-pasted, same time daily, like a bot.
- Leaving you on read, then posting on their story.
- Spelling your name wrong after three weeks.
- Using way too many crying-laughing emojis.
- Sending a meme you sent them last week.
- Replying "lol" to something serious you told them.
- Starting every message with "Hey hey hey."
- Screenshotting your chat to show their friends (you can tell).
- Signing texts with their name.
In-public icks
These are the classic "I saw it and couldn't unsee it" icks:
- Running for the bus and missing it.
- Chasing a ball they dropped down a hill.
- Clapping when the plane lands.
- Being rude to the waiter or cashier.
- Struggling to push a "pull" door. Twice.
- Doing a finger gun at their friends.
- Loudly chewing with their mouth open.
- Saying "yummy" out loud.
- Blowing on their food like a toddler.
- Walking in front of you, not beside you.
- Recording you without asking.
- Trying too hard to impress the group.
- Telling the same story three times.
- Picking a fight with a stranger online in front of you.
- Laughing at their own jokes before the punchline.
- Arguing with a teacher or manager just to look cool.
- Doing TikTok dances in the middle of the mall.
- Saying "that's what she said" after everything.
Style icks
The style icks are the most shallow and the most shared. The ick list guy content on TikTok lives here:
- Socks with slides (unless they own it).
- A backpack worn with both straps super tight.
- Too much cologne or body spray, you can smell them before you see them.
- Sunglasses indoors.
- Jeans that are clearly their dad's.
- A lanyard worn outside of school or work.
- Wearing their own merch.
- Fedoras.
- A tiny hat that does not fit their head.
- Fake designer that is obviously fake.
- Ripped jeans ironed with a crease.
- Gym clothes to every single date.
- A very dramatic hair flip.
- Dirty sneakers after they told you they were a "sneakerhead."
- Over-plucked eyebrows.
- A water bottle clipped to their belt.
- Matching outfits they chose for you without asking.
Is the ick list for guys and girls the same?
Mostly. Icks for guys lean toward style and "trying too hard" stuff, while icks for girls people share lean toward texting and public behavior. But honestly, anyone can do any of these.
Icks vs red flags
Here is the important part. Most icks are harmless. Some things people call icks are actually red flags. The difference:
| Ick (harmless) | Red flag (take it seriously) |
|---|---|
| Runs for the bus | Is rude to service workers |
| Says "yummy" | Makes fun of you in front of friends |
| Wears socks with slides | Checks your phone without asking |
| Double-texts | Guilt-trips you for not replying fast |
| Claps when the plane lands | Pressures you after you said no |
An ick is about taste. A red flag is about how they treat you or others. If number 19 (rude to the waiter) is on your list, good, that one is fair. If a lot of your icks are style things, you might be reacting to nerves, not to them.
For the opposite list, read our green flags in a guy examples. Those matter way more long term.
Here is the thing: when you get the ick, it is really hard to tell if it is a real dealbreaker or just a random feeling. You are judging someone while your feelings are all over the place. The Map starts with a check-in that shows where you stand with the person you love, then gives you one small thing to do each night and a score so you can see if it is actually getting better or worse. Find where you stand
Can you get over the ick?
Sometimes, yes. How to get over the ick:
- Name it. "The ick is that he says 'yummy.'" Once you say it, it often sounds tiny.
- Ask: does this change how they treat me? If no, give it a week.
- Spend time with them doing something you both love. Good memories usually push out the weird one.
- Stop replaying it. Do not send it to the group chat for a 50-person vote.
- Accept it if it stays. If you have the ick for weeks and it is growing, it is okay to not be into someone anymore. You do not need a big reason.
If you are in a situationship, the ick sometimes shows up because you are unsure where you stand. Our am I in a situationship quiz might explain more than the ick does.
Find out if it is the ick or the whole thing
A single ick is a moment. What matters is whether things are good overall. The Map starts with a check-in that shows where you stand with the person you love, then gives you one small thing to do each night and a score that shows whether things are moving. It opens in your browser with no download and no account needed to try. Use the ick list for laughs, and The Map for the real answer.
FAQ
What is the ick meaning in slang?
The ick is a sudden feeling of cringe or disgust toward someone you were attracted to, usually triggered by something small. It is British and Irish slang that went global through reality TV and TikTok.
What are the biggest icks on the ick list?
Common favorites are running for a ball or bus, being rude to service staff, replying "k," and too much cologne. Being rude to people is the one most people agree is fair.
Is the ick a red flag?
Usually no. An ick is about taste or awkwardness. A red flag is about how someone treats you or others, like disrespect, pressure or controlling behavior.
How do you get over the ick?
Name what triggered it, ask whether it changes how they treat you, and give it a little time. If the feeling keeps growing, it is okay to accept that you are not into them anymore.
Where did the ick list trend start?
The phrase was popular in the UK and Ireland, and shows like Love Island pushed it mainstream. It then spread through TikTok, Instagram meme accounts and Reddit threads where people share their own lists of icks.