History Main / PlayingHardToGet

** Especially funny considering the last time this pair of actors worked together, on ''{{Farscape}}'', her character played this trope throughout their season-spanning romantic arc.

-->'''Ross''': She already lives in ''London''.\\

* Standup comedian Creator/LouisCK cited this in a bit where he almost had a one-night stand with a waitress, but she kept guiding his hands elsewhere. The next day, she asked him why he didn't just "Go for it," and said she enjoyed having a guy get frustrated and force himself on her, prompting him to criticize it as "What're you, out of your fucking mind?! You think I'm just going to ''rape'' you on the off-chance that, hopefully, you're ''into'' that shit?"

** Even other personalities see this as immature; if you're not mature enough to [[CannotSpitItOut just spit it out]], you're ''certainly '' not mature enough for a serious relationship.

This is the old idea that the best way to attract romantic interest is by "playing hard to get" because of course "the chase" is an important part of romance. [[NoGuyWantsToBeChased Traditionally used by women to attract men, and "let them think they are in control."]]

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** Even other personalities see this as immature; if you're not man/woman enough to [[CannotSpitItOut just spit it out]], you're ''certainly '' not man/enough for a serious relationship.

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* ''Planet of the Damned'' by Creator/Harry Harrison. Lea is frustrated that protagonist Brion is TheStoic, but a conversation on courtship rituals eventually clues her as to why; he comes from a planet where the women are expected to choose their mates--he's actually attracted to her but for cultural reason can't make the first move.

* ''Manga/{{Bleach}}'': Despite the quote above, Orihime didn't ''mean'' to play hard to get. When Ichigo offered to walk her home, she was surprised and told him it wasn't necessary. As the quote reveals, he let it go. She regretted the event right away.

This is the old idea that the best way to attract romantic interest is by "playing hard to get" because of course "the chase" is an important part of romance. Traditionally used by women to attract men, and "let them think they are in control."

* This is a cornerstone of the "Seduction Community" tips and tactics they give to men that want to be more successful with women. The argument most commonly used is "Women want guys who pose a challenge", and they claim that this is especially true for very attractive women, as opposed to a guy who is open and forward about his feelings, in which case he will be taken for granted and any interest in him will quickly vanish. How effective, let alone coldly manipulative, these tactics are is open to debate, [[RuleOfCautiousEditingJudgment and that's all that is going to be said about it here]].

* Standup comedian Creator/LouisCK cited this in a bit where he almost had a one-night stand with a waitress, but she kept guiding his hands elsewhere. The next day, she asked him why he didn't just "Go for it," prompting him to criticize it as "What're you, out of your fucking mind?! You think I'm just going to ''rape'' you on the off-chance that, hopefully, you're ''into'' that shit?"

* ''Series/StarTrekVoyager''. In "The Q and the Grey", [[TheGreatGazoo Q]] is trying to seduce Captain Janeway, but for some reason this scrawny human biped is resisting his natural awesomeness.

* ''Series/StarTrekVoyager''. Q is trying to seduce Captain Janeway, but for some reason this scrawny human biped is resisting his natural awesomeness.

->''"You didn't have to give up so easily, Kurosaki-kun."''
-->-- '''Orihime''', ''Manga/{{Bleach}}''

* In a male version of the trope, ''Manga/KaguyaSamaWaKokurasetai'''s Miyuki Shirogane decides to invoke this in order to grab his crush (the titular Kaguya)'s attention, after reading about the action in a magazine. All that resulted was that Kaguya thought the boy hated her now.

* Standup comedian Creator/LouisCK cited this in a bit where he almost had a one-night stand with a waitress, but she kept guiding his hands elsewhere. The next day, she asked him why he didn't just "Go for it," prompting him to criticize it as "I'm not going to ''rape'' you on the off-chance you're into that shit!"

* In a male version of the trope, ''Manga/KaguyaSamaWaKokusaretai'''s Miyuki Shirogane decides to invoke this in order to grab his crush (the titular Kaguya)'s attention, after reading about the action in a magazine. All that resulted was that Kaguya thought the boy hated her now.

Often played for comedy when a person actually isn't playing hard to get, but their StalkerWithACrush assumes they are and are thus actually interested in them. It can result in an UnwantedHarem or even a LoveDodecahedron for maximum hilarity.

* Several Creator/JaneAusten heroines find themselves dealing with a suitor who thinks "No, I wouldn't marry you if you were the last man on Earth!" translates to "Yes":

* An Israeli commercial for an upscale hotel in TheNineties featured a man trying to get his girlfriend to marry him, but she keeps telling him to ‘make an effort’. He buys her a large bouquet, then gradually ups the ante, finally getting her a ''car'', before getting them both a vacation in the advertised hotel. She is pleased and asks him to marry her, but then [[UnrequitedLoveSwitcheroo he tells her to ‘make an effort’]].