Ah, who doesn’t love a man of mystery?
Well, while it’s all very alluring in theory for a guy to be the strong and silent type who attracts girls because they can’t quite figure him out, it can actually be extremely frustrating when a guy can’t be open about his feelings.
Have you ever tried getting a straight answer out of a cryptic guy about what he wants?
If you haven’t, you’re lucky, because it is one of the most mind-wrecking experiences a girl can have.
If you can never work out where you stand with the guy you like, this article is for you.
Here are 40 things to say in response to “maybe” from a guy, tailored to a wide variety of circumstances.
40 ways to respond to “maybe” from a guy
- How’s the view from up there on that fence?
- Okay, I’ll leave you to your chopping and changing.
- Well, that’s as clear as mud then.
- I better invest in some good layers if you’re going to blow this hot and cold.
- Thanks for clearing that up for me!
- Up in the air much?
- “Indecision and delays are the parents of failure.” – George Canning
- Ah, the answer every girl dreams of 🤩
- No worries, I’ve always wanted to be the one who got away.
- [Gif of a guy digging a hole]
- Are you being shy again?
- Stop playing so hard to get, we both know you want to.
- I love a man who knows what he wants 😍
- Oh great, that’s all cleared up then 🙄
- Well, that’s extremely unhelpful.
- Don’t be difficult. Yes, or no?
- Stop dragging your feet…
- Are you always this indecisive?
- Okay, I’ll take that as a no.
- Is that a yes-maybe or a no-maybe?
- Sorry, I only date people who are enthusiastic about it, so you’ve missed your chance.
- Sorry, I’m having difficult processing your response. Please type YES to confirm attendance and NO if you can’t make it.
- …seriously?
- That’s too bad. I knew you’d mess it up, I just didn’t think you’d do it so quickly.
- You’re being so annoying.
- Okay, well I’m buying one ticket and going without you.
- Nice one. Well, the ball is in your court now. I’ll let you get in touch when and if you want to.
- Why only maybe?
- Ouch, that kind of hurts. But I hear you loud and clear. I just wish you’d been brave enough to come right out and say, “No” instead of making me read between the lines.
- I think in this context “maybe” means “no.” I don’t want to be in a relationship with someone who only half wants to be in one with me.
- You don’t have to keep your cards so close to your chest, you know? I’m not going to hold your feelings against you.
- Don’t be hot and cold with me.
- I’m not going to pretend I’m not hurt by that answer, so I’m going to need a few days away from you while I think about how to move forward.
- Why would answer a serious question about being in a mature relationship with, “Maybe”?
- Okay, well I’m going to go, so I’ll let you know how it was.
- Let me know ASAP, because I have other people to ask if you don’t want to come.
- When will you know by?
- Since you’re being indecisive, I’m going to read that as a “no.” If that changes, just shoot me a message.
- What would turn that “maybe” into a “yes”?
- Can I do anything to help you decide?
Witty responses to “maybe” from a guy
If a guy answers, “maybe” when you ask him a yes-or-no question, show him that if he doesn’t step up his game, he’s going to lose you to someone else who can give you the clarity and commitment you need.
This will trigger the thought that if he wants to hold on to you, he had better stop to-ing and fro-ing and ask you out.
One way to keep things lighthearted while also asserting your independence is to respond to a disappointing reply from a guy by making a joke.
Here is a list of witty ways to respond to “maybe.”
1. How’s the view from up there on that fence?
This is a funny joke based on the popular idiom about being “on the fence.”
The saying is used to describe someone in a state of indecision who is having a hard time choosing which side of the fence (or the issue the fence represents) to come down on.
Until they decide, they’ll be “on the fence.”
By jokingly asking a guy about the view from a proverbial fence, you’re showing him that he would be dating a smart girl if he goes out with you.
He’s met his match when it comes to having an attitude. He’ll realize that you won’t let him get away with treating you unfairly.
2. Okay, I’ll leave you to your chopping and changing.
This is another funny response to “maybe” that is also a play on words. To chop and change is to alter one’s behavior often for no clear reason.
This response to “maybe” from a guy shows him that you won’t tolerate his lack of commitment for much longer.
You’re making it clear to him that you’re too good to have to convince someone to date you and you know it. You’re getting fed up and won’t try to persuade him to stick around if he doesn’t want to.
3. Well, that’s as clear as mud then.
Using humor to deflect hurt is a strategy as old as time. But that doesn’t mean it’s any less effective now than it was the first time it was used.
The line between a funny joke and a bitter comment is a fine one, and it is one that is difficult to discern over text.
So if you want to bite back at a crush who isn’t giving you an answer about he wants, let alone putting you in the fun position of responding to a compliment from a guy, this line is for you.
4. I better invest in some good layers if you’re going to blow this hot and cold.
If a guy is “blowing hot and cold,” it means he’s giving you mixed messages.
One minute he’s being super affectionate and calling you “honey”, the next he’s giving you the cold shoulder and calling you dramatic when you react badly to being ignored.
Sound familiar? Why not indicate that you won’t put up with it for much longer by responding to your guy’s indecisive “maybe” with this funny comeback.
5. Thanks for clearing that up for me!
It’s the exclamation mark for me.
But seriously, beat the non-committal guy in your life at his own game by giving a deliberately ambiguous response.
If you’re texting back and forth and you send this response to “maybe,” he won’t be able to tell whether you are being funny or whether you are genuinely annoyed.
For example, if you say, “Do you think our date went well on Thursday?” and get a “maybe” in response, you can sarcastically say, “Thanks for clearing that up for me!”
6. Up in the air much?
If you feel like you spend your life responding to dry texts from a guy, you can make light of how hard he is to pin down with this funny line.
7. “Indecision and delays are the parents of failure.” – George Canning
The guy you’re talking to will only get this if he has a specific sense of humor.
If you’re dating a nerd, he’ll appreciate this witty way of making fun of his “maybe.”
Using such a profound quote to refer to a simple text message that says, “maybe” is obviously over the top—and that’s the point.
8. Ah, the answer every girl dreams of 🤩
If you’re frustrated, why not go over-the-top sarcastic—and use an emoji to get your point across!
The joke is that, obviously, girls don’t want someone who can’t decide whether he wants to be with them.
The star-eyed emoji just emphasizes the distance between what you might dream of and what you’re getting.
9. No worries, I’ve always wanted to be the one who got away.
This is a great way to conceal the threat that the guy you’re seeing is about to lose you—or maybe already has.
If you’re the one who got away, you aren’t his anymore. It’s also a good way of subtly reminding him that you’re a catch and that he would regret it if he let you slip through his fingers.
10. [Gif of a guy digging a hole]
If your boyfriend is being really unclear about what he wants, send him a gif of a guy digging himself a hole.
This is a funny way to show him that he’s going to be coming up with ways to apologize to your girlfriend over text if he doesn’t stop digging his own grave.
11. Are you being shy again?
If you want to provoke a guy that you’re talking to into reacting by annoying him, this is the way to go.
If you a guy tells you, “Maybe,” ask him if he’s being shy again.
Do it in the way a mother might ask her small child if they’re shy while they hold onto her leg in the corner of a crowded room.
12. Stop playing so hard to get, we both know you want to.
If you’re confident enough to send this line, go for it!
It will make quite the impression and will probably draw the guy you’re talking to out of his indecisive rut for long enough to engage in a flirty back-and-forth.
13. I love a man who knows what he wants 😍
If you don’t laugh, you cry, right?
If you’re hurt that a guy isn’t enthusiastically committing to you, you can joke that you love a man who knows what he wants.
Adding the heart eyes emoji (or the kissy face emoji) is a nice touch that brings your sarcasm from level 7 all the way up to level 10.
14. Oh great, that’s all cleared up then 🙄
One of the main functions of sarcasm is to point out illogical behavior without having to seriously explain why it doesn’t make sense.
Using the eye-roll emoji to round off the sarcastic statement that the reply, “Maybe” has cleared things up for you is highly effective.
How to respond to “maybe” from a guy about a date
If a guy is being hot and cold about his interest in you, or simply can’t commit to anything—whether that is a date, a relationship, having children, or even what he wants for dinner—you have to show him that you won’t wait around forever for an answer.
One good way to do this is to show how annoyed you are by responding to his “maybe” with a short, irritated reply.
Another is to let the guy know that you won’t hesitate to go find someone else to do whatever you suggested doing with.
If you ask a guy on a date and he responds, “Maybe,” you might feel hurt. Here are a few options for how to reply.
15. Well, that’s extremely unhelpful.
Call it like it is. If you ask a question that you want an affirmative or negative answer to, and all you get is a “maybe,” you’ve wasted your time by even asking the question.
Show him that you are irritated that he is delaying your planning by coming right out and telling him that he is being unhelpful.
If he responds “maybe” to plans too many times, you’ll be left wondering how many days in advance you should ask for a date in order to actually find out whether you’re going on it or not by the time you’re supposed to be at the restaurant.
16. Don’t be difficult. Yes, or no?
If you know the guy you’ve asked out well enough, you can just tell him straight up not to be difficult.
Then ask “Yes, or no?” to clarify exactly what you need from him.
17. Stop dragging your feet…
Replying to “maybe” from a guy with the line “Stop dragging your feet…” is the equivalent of asking a small child to hurry up.
Being told off might trigger him to realize how difficult he’s being.
If he finally understands how his actions are affecting you, he’ll be more likely to provide you with a clear answer about whether he can make the date you’ve proposed or not.
18. Are you always this indecisive?
Asking a guy whether he is always this indecisive will probably cause him to reflect on why he is unable to give you a simple answer to a simple question.
Hopefully, this will make him snap out of it and he’ll just tell you straight whether he wants to go or not.
19. Okay, I’ll take that as a no.
Another good response to “maybe” from a guy about a date is just to tell him that you’re going to interpret his “maybe” as a “no.”
He’ll understand that you’re disappointed about his lack of enthusiasm and that you aren’t excited about going out with a guy who doesn’t seem worried about how to impress on a first date.
Basically, he’ll read this response as you showing him that you know you deserve better and that you won’t settle for someone who can’t commit.
20. Is that a yes-maybe or a no-maybe?
This response takes a humorous approach to the situation.
We all know that “maybe” is a spectrum. Some maybes are closer to yes, while others are basically a way to avoid having to deal with the consequences of saying no.
By asking whether his maybe is a yes-maybe or a no-maybe, you are humorously making the guy you’re talking to respond to the original question.
21. Sorry, I only date people who are enthusiastic about it, so you’ve missed your chance.
If you feel hurt and frustrated that a guy isn’t saying, “Heck yes!” or “Absolutely!” when you ask him out, you can just revoke the offer and tell him he’s missed his chance.
You’ll find someone better to sit across from you. Someone who will actually be a gentleman on a date.
22. Sorry, I’m having difficult processing your response. Please type YES to confirm attendance and NO if you can’t make it.
Pretending to be an automated system that couldn’t process an unclear response is a funny way to illustrate to a guy you’re texting that he’s being difficult.
23. …seriously?
If you’ve been through the whole “maybe” charade with a guy time and time again, you may just feel like giving up.
If you ask him out and he says, “Maybe,” you can just look at him skeptically and slowly say, “Seriously?”
Or, if you’re texting each other, you can enjoy typing out as many elliptical dots as you want in this response.
You might even text, “……..seriously?” to really get your point across.
24. That’s too bad. I knew you’d mess it up, I just didn’t think you’d do it so quickly.
This is a funny way to let a guy know you have run out of patience with his non-committal responses.
Telling him he’s messed it up in the past tense is a good way of letting him know that, as far as you’re concerned, there is no way back for him.
25. You’re being so annoying.
There is a time and a place for an adult to tell another adult that they are being annoying.
And you know what? This is it.
If you ask a guy out and all he comes back with is, “Maybe,” then he is being immature, and there is no harm in telling him so.
Hopefully your direct response will make him snap out of his moodiness long enough to give you a clear answer.
26. Okay, well I’m buying one ticket and going without you.
Some people spend a lot of time worrying about how to say yes to a date without sounding desperate.
It’s possible that your crush thinks saying “maybe” is a good way to say “yes” without sounding overenthusiastic.
However, you shouldn’t be expected to untangle his confusing logic.
If a guy can’t enthusiastically tell you he wants to go on a date with you, he doesn’t deserve to.
If he says he may want to go on a date with you, just tell him you’ve bought a ticket for yourself and then go alone.
Showing him that you won’t wait around for him will make him react more quickly and enthusiastically next time he gets a chance to hang out with you.
How to respond to “maybe” from a guy about a relationship
If a guy responds, “Maybe” to you asking whether he sees the two of you going the distance, it can be extremely hurtful—especially if you’ve already been planning out the rest of your lives together in your mind.
Even if he doesn’t want a relationship, he could have the courtesy to tell you that up front.
He shouldn’t string you along with half measures and partial commitments.
When it comes to something as serious as your romantic future, you don’t have to pretend to find his inability to commit funny.
Instead, try to engage in a meaningful conversation that gets to the bottom of why he can’t seem to give you a yes-or-no answer about whether he wants to be with you.
27. Nice one. Well, the ball is in your court now. I’ll let you get in touch when and if you want to.
If you ask a guy something about your shared future and he responds with “Maybe,” tell him you’re leaving the ball in his court and will wait until he reaches out again.
28. Why only maybe?
If you are having a great time with a guy but he retreats when you bring up serious conversations, respond to his “maybe” about a future relationship by asking, “Why only maybe?”
Hopefully this genuine question will get him to open up about how he’s feeling.
29. Ouch, that kind of hurts. But I hear you loud and clear. I just wish you’d been brave enough to come right out and say, “no” instead of making me read between the lines.
If you can hear that a guy is having doubts, tell him you know what he’s trying to say and that you regret that he couldn’t be more explicit.
After all, why should you do all the hard work for him?
30. I think in this context “maybe” means “no.” I don’t want to be in a relationship with someone who only half wants to be in one with me.
You deserve someone who will tear up as they watch you walk down the aisle.
You deserve someone who tells you they adore you every day. Don’t settle for “maybe.”
If a guy responds to a question about being in a relationship with “Maybe,” tell him you don’t want to be with someone who isn’t 100-percent sure they want to be with you.
31. You don’t have to keep you cards so close to your chest, you know? I’m not going to hold your feelings against you.
If you think a guy struggles to be open about his emotions, you can tell him that you won’t hold what he feels against you.
He may be scared of answering your questions because he doesn’t want to hurt you.
Telling him you’d rather understand what he’s feeling than have him tell you what you want to hear may feel like a weight off his chest and allow him to be more honest with you.
32. Don’t be hot and cold with me.
Being unclear with someone about what you want from them is a form of disrespect.
If the guy you’re seeing can’t come right out and tell you what’s up, you can basically tell him to stop giving you one message one day and another the next.
33. I’m not going to pretend I’m not hurt by that answer, so I’m going to need a few days away from you while I think about how to move forward.
As we get older, we become more assertive. One of the main things we learn is that you don’t have to please everyone all the time.
In fact, it can be hugely beneficial to both ourselves and those around us if we are transparent with people who have hurt us.
If you’re offended by a guy’s inability to commit to a relationship with you, tell him so.
34. Why would you answer a serious question about being in a mature relationship with, “Maybe”?
If you think that the response, “Maybe” to the question, “Do you want to be in a relationship with me?” is just immature, you aren’t alone.
Know that you have every right to be frustrated. Ask why the guy you’re speaking to would answer a serious question in such a childish way.
How to respond to “maybe” from a guy about plans
There is one important exception to “maybe” being an indecisive response. If a guy sends you “maybe 🙃” he is using 🙃 when flirting and he actually means “yes.”
If this is the case, make sure you pick up on his joke and don’t shoot him down!
That said, most of the time “maybe” is pretty much a cop out that is used to avoid having to give a real and clear answer.
If you ask a crush or a guy you’re flirting with whether he wants to get together to do something, and he responds with, “Maybe,” you could reply with one of these assertive comebacks.
35. Okay, well I’m going to go, so I’ll let you know how it was.
Showing a guy that you don’t need him in order to have a good time is a clear way to assert your independence and demonstrate that you won’t wait around for him.
If he wants to come, great! If he doesn’t, no problem!
If you remove the power his “maybe” has over you, then you’ve already won.
This response to “maybe” is almost guaranteed to get a back-tracking reply, in which the guy you’re talking to says that he probably does want to go after all.
36. Let me know ASAP, because I have other people to ask if you don’t want to come.
Another great response to someone being non-committal is telling them to make up their mind because you have other options.
If nothing else, this response will surely make a guy jealous. I mean, he surely wants to know who the other people you want to ask are, right?
37. When will you know by?
It is fair to ask for a time by which you can expect a yes-or-no answer to a proposed plan. Phrase this question in the most cut-to-the-chase way possible for best results.
38. Since you’re being indecisive, I’m going to read that as a “No.” If that changes, just shoot me a message.
When a guy is being unclear, it’s all about leaving the ball in his court and getting on with your life.
You’ve given him the option to be involved, and if he doesn’t take it, that’s his loss.
It’s not your responsibility to make sure you’re constantly available to him.
As much as you want to make the guy you like happy, it doesn’t pay to be a people pleaser. If you give too much of yourself too easily, people will take advantage of your kindness and will respect you less.
39. What would turn that “maybe” into a “yes”?
A fair question, right?
Is there something holding the guy you’re making plans with back from committing? If so, does he feel comfortable telling you so that you can understand what’s going on?
40. Can I do anything to help you decide?
And, continuing on from the last point, if there is something that would turn “maybe” into “yes,” can you do anything to make that happen?
While it can be frustrating to be expected to do all the emotional labor in your relationship with a guy, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try to understand his feelings so that the two of you can reach an agreement.
Hey, it’s me, Steven. Dating and relationships have always fascinated me. On Dategosu, you will find my best tips to make sure your next date is a great success!