Ick
What does Ick mean?
Ick is a sudden feeling of disgust or loss of attraction, especially toward a romantic interest.
Ick used in a sentence
“I got the ick when he started being rude to the waiter.”
This example shows the term in context rather than treating the definition as a literal word-for-word substitution. Slang often depends on tone, audience, and the conversation around it.
How do you use Ick?
The ick commonly describes a moment when attraction abruptly disappears because of a behavior, habit, mannerism, or personal detail. The cause may be serious, trivial, highly specific, or humorous.
Where did Ick come from?
Ick has long been an interjection expressing disgust. Use of the ick as a noun for sudden romantic repulsion is often credited to a 1998 episode of Ally McBeal, and the expression later became widespread through dating discussions and social media.
Common variations of Ick
the ick
The most common form, referring to the sudden feeling of disgust or lost attraction.
ick list
A list of behaviors, habits, or traits that cause someone to lose attraction.
got the ick
A phrase meaning that a specific moment or behavior caused attraction to disappear.
Ick: frequently asked questions
What does getting the ick mean?
It means suddenly feeling disgusted, uncomfortable, or no longer attracted to someone.
Is the ick always about dating?
No. Dating is the most common context, but the expression can describe repulsion toward friendships, habits, products, or situations.
Can the ick go away?
Sometimes. The phrase often implies a lasting loss of attraction, but individual feelings and relationships vary.