On some first dates you might find yourself talking and exchanging stories for hours, but others might fall a little flat. Sitting in a restaurant full of people chattering away while you sit silently staring at each other isn’t ideal. So we’ve come up with a list of awkward silence fillers for you to try if you’re a little lost for words.

Talk about work

Alright it’s probably not the glamourous, interesting conversation topic you were hoping for, but it’s one that we can all relate to. Just make sure to keep it light – your date doesn’t want to know about your spreadsheet macro woes any more than you want to hear about their lack of budget this quarter.

Hobbies

Another cliche, but if there’s something you’re passionate about it could keep the conversation flowing for a while. Just make sure that you’ve got actual interests… drinking wine and gossiping or playing Fifa don’t really count. And be sure not to lie to make yourself seem more interesting. Telling a first date that you’re really into extreme sports when you’re actually scared of heights/fast-moving things/the outdoors might not turn out too well when they invite you parasailing à la Christian Grey a week later.

Food

If you’re out for a meal, this one’s an obvious winner. A quick compliment (or complaint) about the food could kick-start a discussion about your foodie likes and dislikes, and you might find out that your date is a budding chef and the next Gordon Ramsey… though hopefully without the anger issues.

Play ‘would you rather’

I don’t blame you for being skeptical about this one. Yes you probably played it as a teenager, but it’s a great way to get to know someone quickly. Make sure to keep it light and not too deep. Think ‘chased by 100 duck-sized horses or 1 horse-sized duck’, rather than anything more personal. Plus, it will probably give you a good laugh and inspire passionate debates about the virtues of being able to read minds vs. being able to fly. FYI – we’d rather be able to fly!

Observe your surroundings

The environment around you gives you inspiration for so many conversations. Talking about the decor or atmosphere of a restaurant or bar could lead you on to talking about your favourite places, or even what kind of personality traits your date has. Just be careful not to start complaining too much, or your date might find your moaning as much of a turn off as the silence you’re trying to avoid.

So there we have it, our awkward silence fillers for first-dates. And if all else fails, you can always talk to the barman!

Until next time,

The Just Singles Team.