Top 10: Effective Pickup Lines

10 Ways To Break The Ice Without Sounding Ridiculous

Matthew Lynch

Using pickup lines to get close to a woman is something we don't advocate.

That’s because pickup lines generally imply that you lack the intelligence or charm to sweep a woman off her feet or, at the very least, get her to notice you, so you use a stock phrase that someone else thought up. They also have a tendency to seem inherently cheesy and antiquated to all women.We would much rather encourage you to use your creativity and wit to charm the pants off women than to drop one-liners with intentions of making her melt right into your bed.

For the sake of this article, we won’t dismiss the value of pickup lines entirely; however, we will focus on introductory ice-breakers instead of cheesy lines. Guaranteeing the success of these types of pickup lines is not our purpose; we simply want to provide you with the confidence it takes to approach an attractive woman. Using effective pickup lines can prove successful, as they allow for further conversation, ease the tension and may put a smile on her face. Consider these pickup lines that aren't really pickup lines — there are no "did it hurt when you fell from heaven?" clangers in here. If you want those, you can check out some bad pickup lines here.

So here are 10 conversation starters for you to test the next time you’re dazzled by a girl and searching for the right words.

10. 'Excuse me, is this seat taken?'

Innocent, charming and polite. It's not always safe to assume that a woman sitting next to an empty chair is alone. Your consideration of the fact that she may be saving a seat for someone shows that you have class. What makes this an effective pickup line is the fact that it's unobtrusive and gives her the opportunity to signal her non-interest politely, and the opportunity to invite you to join her if she's alone and wouldn't mind chatting. It's something you can approach with both confidence and courtesy, without coming across as total D-Bag, so it's a solid beginner line.

9. 'Would you like to dance?'

Caveat: This probably won't work unless you actually have enough rhythm in your pants to dance. If you impress her with your skills, you might just find yourself at the bar talking about music, the DJ or even the venue. This is among the most effective pickup lines, because women in a place where there is dancing often like to dance (that's typically why they're there), and if you shuffle your feet right, who knows? There are certainly worse ways to meet someone, and if she says yes you're immediately close to her anyway.

8. 'Can I interest you in a glass of... ?'

Insert the type of beverage for which the occasion calls. In most cases, we are speaking of an event or gathering that calls for a glass of wine or a pina colada, and if you’re in college, a beer. If it’s a toned-down occasion, you might offer a soda or lemonade. No matter where you are, this is one of our favorite pickup lines because it affords us the opportunity to be polite and simultaneously display our skills as a connoisseur without being overt about it.

7. 'Do you come here often? I could use your opinion about something...'

Before that gulp of beer comes out your nose, hold on. We know that this one sounds like a cheesy pickup line, but you can make it work for you. If you're having a hard time choosing a dish, a beverage or even an article of clothing that best suits you, it might be time to solicit the help of a woman who may happen to frequent the place in question. If you utilize her choice and opinion as a topic of conversation, you'll see that this is among the most effective pickup lines on the planet, and you don't need to sound like an opinion pollster when you ask it. You'll also get a feel for her intellect based on her response, which is always a nice thing to have.

6. 'Excuse me, can you help me with...?'

Here’s where you can come up with a light task for her to help you with, such as winning a bet among friends, naming a song that is playing or even ordering a drink. This will make her see that you're interested in her and appreciative of her feedback, opinion or selection. Requesting her assistance gives her a non-verbal indication that you’re impressed with her appearance and ultimately states that her answer is valued.

5. 'Don't you find this place...?'

This one could go one of two ways, depending on her demeanor. If she looks like she's enjoying herself, insert a word that best describes the venue, such as "classy," "cool," "chic," or "off the hook." If she seems kind of uninterested and bored by the whole affair, it might be time for the two of you to bond through your mutual dislike of the situation. Hopefully, she'll share your opinion, whichever it is, which will ultimately lead to further conversation about the crowd, decor and ambiance -- or lack thereof. Even if you completely don't agree, you can always strike up a playful argument based on what you just talked about. Once you're on the same page, you've gone a long way toward establishing an enjoyable conversation.

4. 'You look like you might be interested in some great conversation.'

If you say this with the right tone and with enough attitude, it’ll put a smile on her face. While this effective pickup line helps you break the ice, it also spontaneously creates a topic to discuss. This could be anything from food to wine or from a current event to the venue. Be sure that you’re as willing to listen as you are to talk, and remember to keep it light and great, which is exactly what you offered

3. 'Would you like an escort to your... ?'

When you notice a woman walking alone -- perhaps to her table, an elevator or even the bar -- it is always a nice gesture to politely offer her a sense of security. At the same time, it is highly likely that she won’t be walking very far, so exhibiting your charm will be essential to your attempt to break the ice once you’ve delivered your effective pickup line. 

This is a bit of a tough one though. Make sure the woman doesn't feel uncomfortable, and you want to make sure you make the offer casually and not in a pushy way. You want to make her feel more at ease, and more comfortable, not freak her out.

2. 'Wow, I really love what you're wearing. What is that?'

Most women put great effort into preparing an ensemble that best reflects who they are and how they want to be perceived by admirers. As such, your compliment tells her that her efforts did not go unnoticed. This small gesture will boost her confidence and earn you all access to front-row conversation. While it might be cool to already know that her bag's Balenciaga or that her shoes are Jimmy Choo, it doesn't hurt to inquire as to what they are. Giving her an opportunity to talk about her fashion choices shows that you're interested in what she has to say, and that you're a modern man with a certain sophistication.

1. 'I just thought you should know that you have a really nice...'

Complimenting something specific and unique about a woman's features such as her smile, eyes or nose can go a long way in making a her open up enough to converse with you. Who says flattery gets you nowhere? The key is to make sure that you're genuine about your observation -- women can tell when a guy is trying to lay it on thick just to get close. Details are better; complimenting her hairdo isn't going to win you any points for perceptiveness. It's also not a great idea to just keep complimenting her repeatedly -- you'll come across as boring, or as insincere. But for a quick entry point into a conversation, this isn't a bad way to go.