Slang dossier
Cuffing season
Pronounced CUF-ing SEE-zun
The seasonal joke that people look for a relationship during colder months. “Cuffing” here means pairing up; it is not a rule that anyone needs a partner.
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In a sentence
How it sounds
Illustrative examples
- “Everyone is suddenly talking about cuffing season.”
- “I am skipping cuffing season and hanging out with friends.”
Where teens use it
The habitat
Autumn relationship memes, dating conversations and humorous social-media captions.
Parent briefing
What parents should know
A relationship is not a winter requirement or a status upgrade. Ask whether a teen feels pressured to date. Discuss boundaries, consent and the value of friendships without treating every seasonal joke as a confession.
Keep decoding
Related terms
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