LOCKERING (Dating Term)

What Does Lockering Mean in a Text?

Lockering means "Using Academic Studies as an Excuse for Cooling a Relationship." It is used in dating to refer to the practice of withdrawing from a romantic relationship by claiming that you wish to spend more time on your studies. For example:
  • Do you really want to spend more time studying, or are you lockering me because you don't love me anymore?
  • Sal is lockering Paul because she wants to spend more time with the theater group and Paul just doesn't get it.
It's important to note that some people will need to prioritize studies at certain times in their academic career. However, in such cases, care should be taken not to make a romantic partner feel lockered. Unintentional lockering can occur, but can be avoided through frank and honest conversation.

Check out our comprehensive list of dating terms.

Image for Lockering

When I write Lockering, I mean this:

meaning of Lockering

"Using Academic Studies as an Excuse for Cooling a Relationship"

Summary of Key Points

"Using Academic Studies as an Excuse for Cooling a Relationship" is the most common definition for Lockering on online dating sites, such as Craigslist, Tinder, Zoosk, and Match.com, as well as in texts and on chat forums. Here's more:
Lockering
Definition:Using Academic Studies as an Excuse for Cooling a Relationship
Type:Word (Slang)
Guessability:guessability level 4

4: Difficult to guess

Typical Users:typical user
Teenagers

An Academic Look at Lockering

When used as a dating term, lockering is a slang word. Slang refers to words, phrases and uses of language that are regarded as very informal and which are often restricted to a special context or a particular group of users.

What Did We Say before Texting and Social Media?

Before the digital era, we might have said something like "freezing out" instead of saying lockering.

Example of Lockering Used in a Text

Lockering
author logo

This page is maintained by the Cyber Definitions Editorial Team.

Help Us Improve Cyber Definitions

  • Do you disagree with something on this page?
  • Did you spot a typo?
  • Do you know a slang term that we've missed?
Please tell us using this form.

Quiz

Try our fun quiz to test your knowledge of slang and texting abbreviations.
gold cup
Gold

gold cup
Silver

gold cup
Bronze

0
  • This test has questions.
  • A correct answer is worth 5 points.
  • You can get up to 5 bonus points for a speedy answer.
  • Some questions demand more than one answer. You must get every part right.
  • Beware! Wrong answers score 0 points.
  • 🏆 If you beat one of the top 3 scores, you will be invited to apply for the Hall of Fame.
Scoring System

Cyber Guru (+)
Cyber Hero (+)
Cyber Captain (+)
Cyber Sergeant (+)
Cyber Recruit (+)