An emoji expert has revealed what the peach, aubergine and water droplets emoji really mean - and which to avoid when flirting as they come off "too strong".
Keith Broni, 33, reveals the emojis we should and shouldn't be using when messaging a love interest - and says the red love heart, eggplant and smiley devil face are best avoided.
The editor-in-chief of Emojipedia - the emoji search engine - says emojis can be used to "inject a sense of playfulness" with flirtatious banter.
But he warns against using certain emojis - such as the eggplant, peach and water droplets - too early on in a potential relationship which may come across as too much as they have developed sexual connotations.
Keith claims people should also avoid using the fire emoji, anything with red hearts and the disembodied tongue during the initial stages of dating.
Keith, from Dublin, Ireland, said: "Many emojis now have euphemistic meanings.
"The eggplant and peach are a no go. As are the water droplets.
"The red heart - I would warn against.
"It can come off strong.
"The smiley devil face is a little inappropriate and naughty. It's sexually charged. It can come off OTT.
“Avoid anything overly explicit.
“Emojis are used alongside words.
“If you wouldn't put the request in words, you shouldn’t encapsulate it in emojis.”
Keith said emojis are popular on dating app profiles - with many people using them in their bios to express their hobbies and interests.
But he warns to be careful with the emojis chosen due to how they might come across to a potential date.
He said: "People use them to try and ensure that tone of the message is conveyed.
"The winking face is used when people want to be playful and coy.
"You should treat emojis in the same you would if chatting to a friend."
Keith said we should also avoid the wink with tongue face and the disembodied tongue is "off limits".
He said: "Avoid the wink with tongue out. It can be a little OTT.
"Avoid the fire emoji - it's used as a compliment but it's very explicit."
Keith said replying with just an emoji can shows the extent you are willing to respond and can be "a stopper" in a conversation.
He said: "You're saying this is the extent of the response you're going to get from me.
"A single emoji reply can be a conversation stopper."
Keith said the poo emoji and laughing face are in popular use on dating apps and warns against an excessive use of emojis.
He said: "If you use too many that can be seen as childish.
"You don't need to punctuate every sentence with an emoji."
Keith said it's appropriate to use emojis with sexual connotations when you are comfortable with someone and in a relationship.
He said: "When a relationship is cemented it's safer to use the sexual emojis."
Emojis to avoid when flirting -
Eggplant - has developed sexual connotations
Fire - often sent as a compliment but can come off strong
Red heart - connotations of romance
Disembodied tongue
Wink with tongue out
Devil face - can come across as naughty
Water droplets - is sexually charged
Peach
Keith Broni, 33, reveals the emojis we should and shouldn't be using when messaging a love interest - and says the red love heart, eggplant and smiley devil face are best avoided.
The editor-in-chief of Emojipedia - the emoji search engine - says emojis can be used to "inject a sense of playfulness" with flirtatious banter.
But he warns against using certain emojis - such as the eggplant, peach and water droplets - too early on in a potential relationship which may come across as too much as they have developed sexual connotations.
Keith claims people should also avoid using the fire emoji, anything with red hearts and the disembodied tongue during the initial stages of dating.
Keith, from Dublin, Ireland, said: "Many emojis now have euphemistic meanings.
"The eggplant and peach are a no go. As are the water droplets.
"The red heart - I would warn against.
"It can come off strong.
"The smiley devil face is a little inappropriate and naughty. It's sexually charged. It can come off OTT.
“Avoid anything overly explicit.
“Emojis are used alongside words.
“If you wouldn't put the request in words, you shouldn’t encapsulate it in emojis.”
Keith said emojis are popular on dating app profiles - with many people using them in their bios to express their hobbies and interests.
But he warns to be careful with the emojis chosen due to how they might come across to a potential date.
He said: "People use them to try and ensure that tone of the message is conveyed.
"The winking face is used when people want to be playful and coy.
"You should treat emojis in the same you would if chatting to a friend."
Keith said we should also avoid the wink with tongue face and the disembodied tongue is "off limits".
He said: "Avoid the wink with tongue out. It can be a little OTT.
"Avoid the fire emoji - it's used as a compliment but it's very explicit."
Keith said replying with just an emoji can shows the extent you are willing to respond and can be "a stopper" in a conversation.
He said: "You're saying this is the extent of the response you're going to get from me.
"A single emoji reply can be a conversation stopper."
Keith said the poo emoji and laughing face are in popular use on dating apps and warns against an excessive use of emojis.
He said: "If you use too many that can be seen as childish.
"You don't need to punctuate every sentence with an emoji."
Keith said it's appropriate to use emojis with sexual connotations when you are comfortable with someone and in a relationship.
He said: "When a relationship is cemented it's safer to use the sexual emojis."
Emojis to avoid when flirting -
Eggplant - has developed sexual connotations
Fire - often sent as a compliment but can come off strong
Red heart - connotations of romance
Disembodied tongue
Wink with tongue out
Devil face - can come across as naughty
Water droplets - is sexually charged
Peach
Category
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Fun