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going steady
What does going steady mean?
An older term for dating one person exclusively and seriously.
"Back in the day, giving a girl your class ring meant you were going steady."
Origin
Mid-20th-century American dating slang, especially the 1950s.
Frequently asked questions
What does going steady mean?
It's an older term for dating one person exclusively and seriously, the mid-century equivalent of being in a committed relationship.
Is going steady still used today?
It sounds dated now—it was most popular in the 1950s—but people still use it nostalgically or playfully.
Where does going steady come from?
It's mid-20th-century American dating slang, closely tied to 1950s courtship customs like exchanging class rings.
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