Dating Coach Explains Why If Men Say They’re ‘Busy’ It’s A Sign They’re Not Into You
Whether you're dating someone new or hanging out with a friend, it can be a bit discouraging when they tell you they're "busy" and eventually start sounding like a broken record. It shouldn't be a big deal though, everyone gets busy with their lives, right?
One dating coach on TikTok doesn't seem to think so, and in a now-viral video, she explains how when men say they're "busy" it's a subtle hint they're just not into you.
A Budding Romance
You're casually seeing a new guy and you're falling for him pretty hard. So, you text him and ask if he'd like to get drinks Friday night.
![Woman Texting Happy woman looks at her phone and sends a text while sitting at a cafe.](https://www.thecouplething.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Woman-Texting-75663.jpg?b=0&c=0&width=800&height=533&top=377&left=0&zoom=0.666666666667)
Suddenly, he texts you that he's "busy" and over a bit of time, you start to notice that "busy" has become his new favorite buzzword. One woman on TikTok has now gone viral for explaining why the word "busy" is actually a red flag.
The TikTok
Nelly, also known as @ask.nelly on TikTok and Instagram, is a self-described dating coach. With nearly 900,000 views and 77,000 likes, Nelly went viral for her potentially polarizing take on what it really means when men use the word "busy."
![Nelly Instagram Woman standing with hand on hip; she's wearing a white blouse and purple skirt](https://www.thecouplething.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Nelly-Instagram-59030.jpeg?b=0&c=0&width=800&height=533&top=55&left=0&zoom=0.740740740741)
She captions her TikTok with, "Ladies, if he uses this word.. beware."
I'm "Busy"
Nelly delves straight into the issue and begins the TikTok by saying, "There's one word that a man will use around you if he doesn't want to hurt your feelings, but also kind of wants to let you down lightly."
![Nelly TikTok Woman mid-sentence;](https://www.thecouplething.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Nelly-TikTok-49860.jpg?width=800&height=1266)
She says in her experience when women have heard the word "busy" before in relationships, oftentimes they ignore it, make outright excuses for it, and even romanticize it.
So What Does "Busy" Really Mean?
She adds that on the opposite side, however, when her male clients use the word "busy" with women, they do indeed use it as a means of letting women down gently and as a subtle hint they're just not interested in a romantic relationship.
![Nelly TikTok Woman raising finger to the camera](https://www.thecouplething.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Nelly-TikTok-77231.jpg?width=800&height=1285)
"If a guy tells you he's 'too busy,' what he really means is he doesn't view you as a priority," says Nelly.
Maybe They Actually Are Busy
The TikTok quickly went viral for its unique take and users had a lot to say. Some people disagreed with Nelly's black and white take and said that sometimes people just really are busy. Whether a demanding job or other life events, perhaps the word "busy" shouldn't be too deeply read into.
![Busy TikTok Comment #1 TikTok comment: But what if he's actually busy and has a lot going on?](https://www.thecouplething.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Busy-TikTok-Comment-1-34914.jpg?width=700&height=200)
"[There] are guys who are truly busy though and not trying to get away from you," one user wrote.
Not A Priority
Other users, however, agreed with Nelly's opinion and said that if someone truly cares about you and wants to make you a priority, they'll find time for you, adding that "I'm busy" is a cop-out excuse. Other users had a slightly different take on what guys actually mean when they say the b-word.
![Busy TikTok Comment #2 TikTok comment: Absolutely. If they want to make time for you, they will.](https://www.thecouplething.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Busy-TikTok-Comment-2-86966.jpg?width=700&height=200)
"If he's busy he's usually talking to other women which to him is [he's] busy," one user wrote.