Dating in the modern world is often a minefield.

Thanks to the creation of apps such as Tinder, Bumble and Hinge, looking for a date is often just a swipe away from us – meaning that, in theory, looking for love should be easier than ever.

Unfortunately it doesn’t always work out that way, with most of us spending ages swiping through dozens of profiles and suffering the excruciating small talk before finally securing a date.

Things don’t become much easier once the conversation moves into the real world either, as first dates often end up with both of you sat in awkward silence after realising you don’t have much in common.

Looking to make sure you’re not wasting time on a bad first date? Australian dating expert Louanne Ward has revealed some body language red flags you should look out for.

Sharing the advice on her Instagram account – @louanneward – the matchmaker detailed seven ‘tell-tale’ signs that someone isn’t interested in you.

Closed arms

One of the easiest ones to spot is closed arms, with Louanne writing that crossed arms are a key sign that someone has closed themselves off to you.

“Crossed arms create a barrier, suggesting a defensive and closed-off attitude,” she said.

Leaning away

Leaning away is another sign, with the action showing that someone is subconsciously trying to distance themselves from you.

“If they consistently lean away from you, it signifies a desire to create physical distance and disengage,” Louanne explained.

Our body language doesn’t lie. (Getty Stock Image)

Minimal eye contact

Making eye contact with others, especially during intense scenarios can feel a little daunting – but looking into your date’s eyes is an important sign that you’re into them.

Avoiding eye contact or constantly looking away can indicate a ‘lack of interest or discomfort’ in someone.

Lack of engagement

Having a conversation with someone shouldn’t feel difficult or one-sided, if it does this is another sign someone isn’t interested in getting to know you. Louanne said that an uninterested person may show this by ‘not actively participating in the conversation, offering short or monosyllabic responses, or seeming distracted’.

Limited touch

Physical touch is an important way of building a romantic connection with someone. Granted some people may not be overly comfortable with physical touch, but it can be a key sign of disinterest.

Louanne noted that anyone actively trying to avoid touch or keep a distance from you could well be showing their lack of interest.

Dating expert Louanne Ward. (Instagram/@louanneward)

Absence of mirroring

According to Louanne, when we’re interested we ‘tend to mirror the body language of the other person subconsciously’. Therefore a lack of mirroring can reveal the absence of an emotional connection.

Preoccupation

Seeing someone pull out their phone on a date is a clear indicator that the date is going south. Louanne added that a person who’s more interested in checking their phone or looking around the room has a ‘disinterest in the current interaction’.

The dating expert concluded her post by writing: “Remember, while these body language cues may indicate disinterest, it’s essential to consider them in conjunction with verbal communication and the overall context.

“If you observe several of these signs, it might be time to gracefully move on and find someone who truly appreciates your company!”

A woman has sparked debate online after revealing the four word message that put her off going on a first date.

The woman explained that after she made a profile on a dating app, she started chatting to a man who asked her out for food.

While she was initially enthusiastic about meeting up, she shared a second message the man sent which has completely put her off.

Taking to Mumsnet, the woman asked if she should still go ahead with the date as planned, or if she should run a mile.

But people were pretty divided with their views.

While some agreed it would be an instant turn off, others said they thought she should at least give the date a chance.

“I made a profile on an app and some guy’s asked me out for a bite to eat. I said yes, and we’ve agreed to meet this weekend,” the woman explained in her post.

The woman was unsure about a walk around the town centre (Getty Stock Photo)

“Now he’s said shall we have a short walk first before the food to ‘see how we feel’?

“That’s obviously code for, I’ll see if I fancy you and if not I don’t have to eat with you. It wasn’t a fancy sit down meal, just a quick bite to eat like.

“Should I still go ahead? I don’t know why, this has put me off slightly.

“It was only some waffle place, I wouldn’t go for a formal meal for a first date either. Should I still go?”

Explaining he wanted to walk around the city, she added: “I just don’t want to feel like I’m being assessed so much.

“A waffle/crepe whatever is hardly a court summons, it’s barely more than a coffee. If I’m that grotesque surely he can finish it quickly and go?”

Some thought going for food would be awkward (Getty Stock Photo)

People were pretty divided, but many agreed it didn’t make sense to walk aimlessly through a town centre.

“I would never ever go for a walk as a date unless it was someone who was into hiking. Walking down the road with someone is not a date,” one person wrote.

And another said: “I could understand him not wanting to do a whole formal meal type of thing but a waffle!

“At least with a waffle, once you’ve finished you can leave if you don’t like him.

“What do you do on an aimless walk? Keep walking awkwardly with no end in site. That’s a no for me.”

Others thought the woman was being too harsh, however.

One added: “I think you’re being a bit sensitive – it makes sense to suss the other person out before committing to a meal.

“Doesn’t necessarily mean fancying, but what if their vibes are just totally off? Gives you a chance to suss him out too.”

And another said: “No way would I have food on a first date. Eating in front of someone you don’t know is just cringe. Have a short walk and grab a coffee.”

What do you think?

An expert has revealed the tell tale signs that your partner is ready to take the next step in your relationship.

Imagine this, you’ve finally made it past the awkward dating app stage and enjoying a blossoming relationship.

Instead of stilted small talk your days are now replaced with meeting the family and discussions about what your future relationship will look like.

If the relationship is going really well you may even start wondering what the next steps are. Marriage, children, buying a house together?

If you’re ready to tie the knot but unsure if your partner feels the same, here are the main signs that you may be receiving a marriage proposal in the near future.

You get an invite to meet the family

Receiving an invitation to meet the family is one the first signs that your significant other sees you sticking around for the long-haul. After all, why would you bother to introduce someone to your grandparents and distant cousins if the relationship was just casual?

According to psychologist Sabrina Romanoff, introducing your partner to important people in your life is a sign they are serious.

“If they are serious about you as a life partner, they likely will introduce you to the important people in their life,” Romanoff told Verywellmind.

“[It’s] a sign that they want to integrate you into their life in a meaningful way and to make sure you are compatible with their friend and family groups.”

‘I’ becomes ‘We’

Another sign that your partner has marriage on the brain is if they factor you into their longterm plans.

Discussing plans about buying a house together, window shopping for nice furniture – especially if they’re asking for your opinion on home decor preferences.

Are you hoping to be presented with a ring? (Getty Stock Images)

Does your partner also refer to the two of you as a ‘we’ instead of a ‘you and I’? If so, this could be another sign things are getting serious.

According to research undertaken by the University of California, engaging in ‘we-talk’ is a key indicator that you have moved from self-oriented to relationship-oriented.

You begin to talk about wedding plans

Most of us have speculated what our future hypothetical wedding day could look like from time to time.

However if you find your significant other frequently looking for a way to bring up discussions around weddings or getting married, it could be a sign they’re testing the water to see where you stand on marriage.

They’ve been engaged before

Your partner having multiple engagements under their belt can mean one of two things – they’re afraid of commitment or they really believe in the idea of marriage.

“If they have been engaged before, they likely are marriage-oriented and hopefully have learned from their past experience,” Romanoff said, adding that a previous engagement at least shows their intent for long-term commitment.

If you’ve read this far it’s likely you’re looking to get married. (Getty Stock Images)

However it’s also important to remember that a string of failed engagements could also be a sign that your partner is quick to rush in to situations they’re not fully ready for.

Now we’re not saying these signs mean you should rush to book wedding venues or make a shortlist of baby names right away, but if your partner is showing more than one of these signs it might be time to sit down and have an open conversation about your expectations for the future.