Meaning of will-they-won't-they | Babel Free

Definitions

1. Of or pertaining to a potential coupling between two people who share romantic chemistry, but whose relationship is threatened by uncertainty, external obstacles or internal strife.
   not-comparable
2. Of or pertaining to any situation in which there is an extended period of uncertainty.
   broadly, not-comparable

Examples

“Princess Sonja, the daughter of an Oslo fashion house director, married Crown Prince Harald last⟳ summer after a will-they-won't-they romance that had gone on for a decade.”

“Duet is a "will-they-won't-they?" sit-com about a young couple best described as in the throes of 'courting'.”

“Woolworths had already started manufacturing wedding memorabilia, including William and Kate china, ahead of an announcement; the press⟳ toyed with the will-they-won't-they question⟳; and the couple kept a chart of newspaper speculations on the royal wedding”

“Ôba's three-part What is Your Name⟳? (Kimi no na wa, 1953—1954), a will-they-won't-they romantic drama in which a couple meet⟳ on a bridge during a wartime air raid and fall⟳ in love⟳, promising that they will meet⟳ again although unfortunately neglecting to tell⟳ each other their names, was the most commercially successful film of the early 1950s.”

“Tim and Dawn, being a will-they-won't-they pair, both lose⟳ (until they get⟳ together at the end⟳).”

“Among the small producers, the West German companies Continental Gummi and Phoenix Gummi are in the middle of a will-they-won't-they merger dance⟳.”

“Not only physically did Greenpeace alter the situation—but perhaps more important, it gave the issue⟳ a cup-tie atmosphere which it may not otherwise have⟳ had, and there was the constant will-they-won't- they.”

“The reality behind the will-they-won't-they, pre-nuptial dances among aspirant members of Europe's monetary union club is that as long as the present⟳ economic slowdown doesn't turn⟳ into a full-blown recession the project will probably go ahead.”

CEFR level