A thirst trap is a type of social media post intended to entice viewers sexually.[1][2][3][4] It refers to a viewer's "thirst", a colloquialism likening sexual frustration to dehydration, implying desperation, with the afflicted individual being described as "thirsty".[4][5][6] The phrase entered into the lexicon in the late 1990s, but is most related to Internet slang that developed in the early 2010s. Its meaning has changed over time, previously referring to a graceless need for approval, affection or attention.[7][6]
- ^ "thirst trap". Dictionary.com. May 20, 2020. Archived from the original on June 11, 2020. Retrieved June 9, 2020.
- ^ "thirst trap". Cambridge English Dictionary. Archived from the original on May 4, 2022. Retrieved June 9, 2020.
- ^ Young, Sarah (December 20, 2016). "Ghosting, Benching and DTR: Here's what these 13 dating terms really mean". The Independent. Archived from the original on May 7, 2022. Retrieved June 10, 2020.
- ^ a b "What is a thirst trap". Archived from the original on June 11, 2020. Retrieved June 11, 2020.
- ^ Favilla, E. J. (2017). A World Without 'Whom': The Essential Guide to Language in the BuzzFeed Age. Bloomsbury. p. 143. ISBN 978-1-63286-759-9. Archived from the original on June 21, 2023. Retrieved June 8, 2020.
- ^ a b "It's Easy to Be Called 'Thirsty' on Social Media. What About on Capitol Hill?". The New York Times. April 4, 2017. Archived from the original on June 11, 2020. Retrieved June 9, 2020.
- ^ "'Thirst Trap' Enters The Lexicon". NPR. April 17, 2018. Archived from the original on June 15, 2020. Retrieved June 8, 2020.