20+ First dates that fizzled out fast: 'It was the first date. He brought his mom'

Author image for Remy Millisky
Remy Millisky • Writer and Editor
Feb 6, 2025 3:00 PM EST

Making a good first impression is crucial when dating, yet so many people don't seem to care about that at all. They show up looking sloppy or arrive 20 minutes late. Some talk about their exes or rant about the reasons they've become jaded and bitter in life. And some are literally just looking for a free meal! 

Dating is all about managing expectations. You might not have a good time, or you might meet someone you adore. Much like a job interview, sometimes feelings change after the fact. You might think you had great chemistry on the date, but then within a day or two, your date has a change of heart and decides not to go out with you again. Or maybe you go out with someone you thought was cute in a group setting, but one-on-one, you realize they're a total bore. 

It's often interesting to get to know someone new, and just doing a fun activity might be enough to make the date worth going on. Even if you don't get along with your dating app crush, at least you got to make a painting or do some ax-throwing or some other cutesy activity. Still, it's an infuriating feeling when you realize 20 minutes into that first date that you're never going to see this person again. True love might be out there somewhere, but it hasn't found these people yet, because they're spilling the bad dates when they immediately decided, "Nah, I'm out." 

Up next, read about the new hire who spotted some red flags at a mysterious new company, saying that "Nobody knew what my job was." 

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  • 01
    Cheezburger Image 10464428032
    via Andrej Lišakov For Unsplash+

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • 02

    "What's the biggest "Nah, I'm out" moment you've had on a date?"

    OK_weird1229 She showed me two pictures of exes and asked where I would rank myself with them.
    via u/OK_weird1229

    Whoa, yikes. 

  • 03

    Is this some kind of power play?

    MJDooiney First date with a girl, she ordered lobster macaroni and cheese and picked out all the lobster.
    via u/MJDooiney

    The date should assert dominance in this situation: eat the lobster off her plate! If you're paying for it anyway, you may as well help yourself. 

  • 04
    JetPlane_88 It was our fourth date. She brought up the exes conversation (how many relationships have you been in, why didn't they work out, etc.) Without skipping a beat she told me she'd probably still be with her last partner but he left because she lied about taking birth control.
    via u/JetPlane_88
  • 05
    CaffeinatedRob_8 Attempted to rekindle a relationship because we bumped into each other at a happy hour, and had a fun conversation-and thought perhaps things ended prematurely. She was game for grabbing dinner, and even suggested a good Italian place that she had been wanting to try.
    via u/CaffeinatedRob_8
  • 06
    Done! Reservation booked. Time set. The day of our date arrived. We were supposed to meet there separately but mid morning she texted asking if she could get picked up. Sure! No problem. She texted again. This time asking if we could change the reservation time to an hour later in the evening.
    via u/CaffeinatedRob_8
  • 07
    Ok, I'll see what I can do. Done. Another text. This time asking about possibly going to a different restaurant because one of her girlfriends suggested a "better" spot. I actually reserved a table at said "better" spot at the later time and everything.
    via u/CaffeinatedRob_8
  • 08
    Oh. But then I found out that she didn't want the later time at the "better" spot. She wanted to go back to the original time. I forget exactly what my text message said at this point but it was something along the line of "I'm sorry to do this but I'm just not hungry anymore."
    via u/CaffeinatedRob_8
  • 09

    This is a major red flag!

    Ac997 Gave her my phone to put music on in the car & saw in the reflection of the passenger window she was going through my texts.
    via u/Ac997

    Just imagine how she would've acted if that person had decided to date her. 

  • 10
    ThatOne1983 He asked me how much the bill was for his portion on our first date. I scan the bill and say just put in $15 and it's fine, I'll get the rest. He grabbed the bill out of my hand and proceeded to explain to me the exact amount he owed for about five minutes like I didn't understand basic math.
    via u/ThatOne1983
  • 11
    Oh and I'll throw in a bonus here. Another guy, first date. We met online so it was our very first time meeting. Met at the restaurant, parked close so our initial meeting was in the parking lot. He says hi, asks how the drive was and then told me that if I didn't agree to f him after dinner he wasn't going to bother with the meal. I got right back in my car and left.
    via u/ThatOne1983
  • 12
    ktsb We went to a movie and as we got up she threw the popcorn on the floor. Flipped the bag and gave it a good shake. I said that wasn't nice and she said they have people to clean up. I wish i had said something else but i sortal just went on auto pilot until i dropped her off.
    via u/ktsb
  • 13
    towers_of_ilium When he asked me if I thought he smelled nice. I politely said yes, and he reached into his leather jacket and brought out a little sample atomiser of Ferrari cologne. He proudly presented it to me, saying I could keep it as a memento of our date and him.
    via u/towers_of_ilium
  • 14
    In the right way, it could be rather kitschy and cute, but this guy was fully into himself all night, and this was the cherry on top. He was shocked when I didn't want to go home with him that night hahahaha
    via u/towers_of_ilium
  • 15
    CaptainF Hole It was the first date. He brought his mom.
    via u/CaptainF***Hole
  • 16
    Relationshipl||95... I'm a gay guy. Had a date with a guy that seemed okay until the end of the night when he told me he had just come out to his family - during his sister's wedding that caused a bunch of drama.
    via u/Relationshipl||9576
  • 17
    No thanks. If you aren't mature enough to realize that this is your sister's special day and that you made it all about you, then this ain't gonna work.
    via u/Relationshipl||9576
  • 18
    schaden-fraulein He talked non stop about how much of a b his ex was, the dude was so angry. He gave me a headache
    via u/schaden-fraulein
  • 19
    AdFresh8123 It was a blind date. Surprise! Two of her friends "just happened" to show up. She invited them to join us without even asking me. They pretty much ignored me and ordered the most expensive items on the menu, including drinks. Every time I tried to join in the conversation, I was rudely dismissed.
    via u/AdFresh8123
  • 20
    I realized pretty fast that I was being scammed. They barely paid attention when I finished my meal and excused myself to go to the restroom. I went to the bar and had the bartender call my server over. I was a regular there, so they knew me. I told her what was up, and I wanted to pay my share of the check. I tipped her generously since I knew my
    via u/AdFresh8123
  • 21
    "date" was probably going to screw her over. I warned my server that they might try to run out on the bill when they figured out I wasn't a sucker. I left and met some friends at a bar I knew they would be at. We had a good laugh about it. A few days later, I stopped back in the restaurant for lunch. The bartender told me I was right. He said it
    via u/AdFresh8123
  • 22
    took them a while to catch on that I'd left. They did try to dine and dash and got caught. The manager threatened to call the cops. They ran up a huge tab because they had several drinks each as well. One of the girls had to have her dad come down and pay the bill.
    via u/AdFresh8123
  • 23
    Skeets2680 When he wouldn't get out of my truck until I kissed him. I threatened to drive to the police station to get him out of my truck. Spoiler alert: there wasn't a 2nd date.
    via u/Skeets2680
  • 24

    This is quite concerning, especially if they barely knew the guy before the date

    Feeling_Voice1053 On our first date, when he showed up with a framed photo of himself and his dog for my apartment.
    via u/Feeling_Voice1053

    Even if they were friends, this would make anyone pause and reassess what they were seeing in that person. 

  • 25
    Lucibean snapped at the busser for more water in his 75% full glass that was just filled. "Hey, bud. Can we keep this full?"
    via u/Lucibean
  • 26
    JudgementDog First date: we drove past a cemetery and she said they are beautiful. I said "yeah, my father is buried in that one." She said "do you mind if we stop and visit his grave?" This woman was stunningly beautiful, but a little quirky.
    via u/JudgementDog
  • 27
    I fumbled over my words for a few moments and reluctantly said "I guess so." I was weirded out, but curious where it could possibly go from there (this was within the first hour of the date). We are standing there and she pulls me close, I feel her breath on my neck. I am still wondering if someone is
    via u/JudgementDog
  • 28
    about to tase me and steal my organs. All of the sudden she says "let's take a picture to remember this moment. It was weird, but we move on. The next day she post pictures all over social media of us wit my fathers headstone. It was super creepy.
    via u/JudgementDog
  • 29
    I called and messaged her to please take it down. I felt so violated, she did not understand my reaction and truthfully. Neither did I. I just got an ick about her
    via u/JudgementDog
  • 30
    Cat_tophat365247 Went on a dinner date at a guys house. He surprised me and had invited his parents over and that was awkward enough. Then, in the middle of dinner, he got down on one knee and proposed.....it was our FIRST date. I just got up and walked out. Thank God I had driven there. At that point, I would have walked home if I had to, though.
    via u/Cat_tophat365247
  • 31
    NoPeppers4me I went on a date with someone who started chatting it up with everyone around them and completely ignored me
    via u/NoPeppers4me
  • 32
    NoEdge2715 When they checked their phone every few minutes
    via u/NoEdge2715
  • 33
    Dak_Hans She told me that right before the date she had hooked up with her ex boyfriend in case the date failed.
    via u/Dak_Hans
  • 34
    Jadeinda We had a pleasant first date so we arranged for a second. I was waiting for him in the pub and he was running late, so I text "Where are ya?" and he sent me a voice note screaming "WHERE AM I?? WHERE THE F AM I??? I'M OUTSIDE THE PUB WAITING FOR YOU. HOW
    via u/Jadeinda
  • 35
    DARE YOU SPEAK TO ME LIKE THAT. F YOU, I'M LEAVING". I was like fair enough and proceeded to have drinks with other people. Then a week later he asked if we could go on another date.
    via u/Jadeinda
  • 36
    kenfagerdotcom After introducing herself, she immediately said that she was boring, didn't get out much, and speaks fluent sarcasm. She then said she works too much and doesn't have much time to devote to a relationship. I was livid at the person who set us up.
    via u/kenfagerdotcom
  • 37
    S... He revealed to me (hadn't bothered to mention before we'd met up) that he had two children by two different women. Also lied about his height, by a lot. Edit: forgot to mention that he referred to his children as "accidents". lol
    via u/ScaryA**B****
  • 38
    throwAW-neutral... Went to Mardi Gras with a guy and back to his apartment after... His apartment was a pig stye... a bachelor pad almost.. immediate no. We had been dating for a bit and I could tell I would be the one cleaning that eventually down the line..
    via u/throwAW-neutral123
  • 39
    uthillygooth told me she was still married to her husband but only married him for his insurance.
    via u/uthillygooth
  • 40
    Straight Securit... He wouldn't buckle his seatbelt for a 30 mile drive for fear of wrinkling his shirt.
    via u/Straight_Security672
  • 41
    C... Some guy who I'd only been seeing for a few weeks wrote a poem about me and wanting me to have his babies. He showed me the poem on our 2nd date. Couldn't have gotten out of there faster
    via u/ClaudesBiggestFan

    Writing someone a poem could've been a romantic gesture, but this just comes off as creepy. 

  • 42
    VanderDril Rode to waitstaff at the restaurant and then looked at me with a smirk like I should be on board with it.
    via u/VanderDril
  • 43
    SammehPls This girl told me that she was paying a lady weekly to do tongue exercises to fix her teeth instead of paying for braces, because braces were a waste of money.
    via u/SammehPls
  • 44
    Acrobatic_Sugar... It was a first date. The conversation was fine until he told me that before I meet his mama, I would need to hide my tattoos because she thinks they are trashy. We literally JUST met and never brought up meeting parents... And he didn't look at all like his photo.
    via u/Acrobatic_Sugar 2851
  • 45
    One-Cup-4337 Came back from the restroom and she was giving her number to the bartender.
    via u/One-Cup-4337
  • 46
    pinkiebearz All he did was talk about himself and his achievements, nothing says your more insecure than this
    via u/pinkiebearz
  • 47
    ethereal_galaxias First date. We met for coffee. He talked about his tractor for the entire hour. Literally nothing else and didn't ask anything about me.
    via u/ethereal_galaxias
  • 48
    Marcysdad A selfie of herself as a lock screen and another one as her wallpaper
    via u/Marcysdad
  • 49
    TaxNo174 Met online and had been chatting a bit. Texting as I'm headed to meet up for the first date. Him: Can you pick me up? I'm not mobile at the moment. Me: Sure. What's the address?
    via u/TaxNo174
  • 50
    Him: Do you think you could loan me a little money until next week? Me: Bye Literal conversation, no response after that. I didn't even make it out the door.
    via u/TaxNo174
  • 51
    HawkTuah19 On a first date the guy CLEARLY made a point that he wanted kids within the next year.... uhhh maybe I could find out a little bit about you first before carrying your child?
    via u/HawkTuah19
  • 52
    Dry-Inflation6249 When he told me that no, we can't have a slice of Pizza for lunch, because it was not on his plan for the day. I was starving and he insisted that we stick to his plan and have a long nice
    via u/Dry-Inflation6249
  • 53
    walk around the lake with thousands of other people. because it was the first day with really warm weather in that year and afterwards - Like five hours later - we would go to a restaurant.
    via u/Dry-Inflation6249
  • 54
    watabby It was our third date. We were hitting it off really well. It was looking like it was actually going to be a thing. Anyway, we were talking about our favorite movies and she said, unprovoked,
    via u/
  • 55
    that The Princess Bride was the worst movie she had ever seen and that it was possibly the worst movie ever made. I stopped seeing her after that.
    via u/Dry-Inflation6249
  • 56
    P... When he bragged about his ugly yellow USED Porsche like it was a flex. I mentally checked out, which prompted him to ask me what I thought and I just said "Porsches should only be red or black". Date was over after that
    via u/PiquantPanda777
  • 57
    Edit: For the record, he was bragging the ENTIRE date about how rich and awesome he was.... Talked about himself incessantly and was ride to me. Him flexing about his Porsche was the last straw and I chose to bring him down a few notches with my comment
    via u/PiquantPanda777
  • 58
    Civil_Existentialist We went for a walk and there was a crossing, she asked me which way we should take. I said I don't care I am just enjoying our walk. Afterwards she told me that was the moment she knew I am not the one because she needs a man ,,who can make tough decisions".
    via u/Civil_Existentialist
  • 59
    LeEspionnage First date. Everything was good until nearing the end of the date where she said "if you're gonna be with me, we're gonna have to do a makeover on your clothing and hairdo".
    via u/LeEspionnage
  • 60
    Then continues on to say "set aside at least $5k for the makeover". I was wearing a three-piece suit, my haircut was smart and formal looking.
    via u/LeEspionnage
  • 61
    Mastodon-Endin... She brought her horse on the date, without telling me.
    via u/Mastodon-Ending-53
  • 62
    throwawayDan11 I went on a date with a girl who let me order something she was severely allergic to. She didn't mention it until much later. I couldn't determine if that was on purpose to get out of the date or she had complete disregard for her health. Either way I don't need that kind of drama
    via u/throwawayDan11
  • 63
    One-Young-9295 When the first date looks like an interview instead of an engaging conversation
    via u/One-Young-9295
  • 64
    sketchy722 When she said she was married to NBA player and showed off the ring that she was wearing and talking about the value of it. Not sure how I didn't notice originally but she made sure to bring it up before the food came.
    via u/sketchy722

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