5 of the Internet’s best (or worst) pickup lines

Use at your own risk.

Jan 27, 2016
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Complex Original

Image via Complex Original

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Complex Original

Image via Complex Original

Pickup lines have a bad reputation: They're usually considered the territory of sleazy men trying to manipulate women instead of just interacting with them like normal human beings—but sometimes, they work. 

Some are so bad they're good, as one Redditor pointed out in a "best pickup lines" thread: "Don't think the comments would have been much different if OP had asked for the worst pickup lines." 

If you're wondering how to pull out a pickup line that might actually work, here are some of Reddit's best suggestions:

1. Here's one for the grocery store

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For cute grocery shoppers, Zack4568 suggested, "If I wasn't buying all this Gatorade, would you still check me out?" 

Redditor Thats_satan_talk has been on the receiving end of this one, and said it's "funny as hell," though their manager's presence prevented them from responding. 

Just make sure the cashier is actually checking you out in more ways than one.

2. To pick someone up without admitting you're picking them up

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If you want to be covert about your pickup attempt, Redditor GambitDota ​suggested you start with, "Hey, I have a question and need a woman's advice" (or a man's, as the case may be).

Then, if they agree, say, "Let's say I see a really cute girl. Do I go up and talk to her or is that too direct?"

If they say you should, reveal that you're currently taking their advice. Slick, right?

"I've done it two times and got two numbers out of it so it's clearly a 100% success rate!" they said, though this experiment clearly has a small sample size.

3. To seamlessly speed things up

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If someone speaks another language, you may have an opportunity to get them to initiate things.

"Back in college I met a girl at a party. We hit it off, she tells me she's Russian, and that she speaks the language," Redditor /u/BioLogicMC wrote. "I say 'Bullsh*t! Say something in Russian!' She asks, 'What do you want me to say?' I replied, 'I want you to say 'kiss me.' I have no idea what she said next, but I kissed her."

Another one to try: "What's Russian for 'Let me buy you a drink?'"

4. If you don't mind being very direct

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"Hey wanna make out?" has a decent success rate, according to Redditor surpriseslingshot.

Bcbb confirmed: "A girl once used this line on me. It worked."

At least there's no misunderstanding your intentions with that one. 

5. If you'd rather just behave like a normal person

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Pickup lines don't have to sound like pickup lines. As Witty-username8194 pointed out, a simple "Hi, what's your name?" will do. 

This one may not make your intentions explicitly clear, but it puts less pressure on the recipient. 

Use pickup lines at your own risk. Any prescripted phrase can be a turnoff—though if you get blasted for using them, just blame Reddit.

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