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benchwarmer
What does benchwarmer mean?
Someone maintained on the sidelines as a reserve romantic option, the target of benching.
"I got tired of being his benchwarmer while he chased someone else."
Origin
From sports 'benchwarmer', a reserve player; the object of 'benching'.
Frequently asked questions
What does benchwarmer mean in dating?
It's a person kept on the sidelines as a backup romantic option—the target of 'benching,' who's strung along but not seriously pursued.
Where does the term come from?
It's borrowed from sports, where a benchwarmer is a reserve player who sits on the bench rather than playing.
How is it related to benching?
Benching is the act of keeping someone as a low-priority option; the benchwarmer is the person on the receiving end of it.
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