CUFF

What Does Cuff Mean?

The Quick Answer

Cuff means "Tie Down in a Relationship," "Make Up as You Go Along," and "Hit Lightly."

Tie Down in a Relationship

In dating related chat, cuff is a reference to handcuffs. It is used to imply that someone is tied down in a relationship. Although cuff may have negative connotations, it need not always be that way. Cuff is just as often used to describe a happy union between two people. For example:

Lee is going to cuff Sam. Now they'll be no fun at all.
Ali is a free spirit that no-one will ever be able to cuff
Jo and Les are going to cuff! They will be the perfect couple.

People in a long-term relationship or who are married are often referred to as cuffed. Ditching a long-term partner is called uncuffing. For a full list of dating related abbreviations and other terms, check out our digital dating page.

Make Up as You Go Along

Cuff also means "to make something up as you go along," as in, "to fly by the seat of your pants." For example:

I didn't prepare for the exam at all, because I knew I could cuff it.
When Trump became president, I never imagined he would continue to cuff it!

Hit Lightly

Cuff also means to hit lightly, usually on the side of the head. For example:

In the old days, a police officer or teacher would cuff you around the ear if you were out of line.

Image for Cuff

When I write Cuff, I mean this:

Cuff is a very widely used term.

Summary of Key Points for the First Definition

"Tie Down in a Relationship" is the most common definition for Cuff in texting and on messaging apps, especially dating sites.

Cuff
Definition:	Tie Down in a Relationship
Type:	Word (Slang)
Guessability:	2: Quite easy to guess
Typical Users:	Adults and Teenagers

Summary of Key Points for the Second Definition

"Make Up as You Go Along" is another common definition for Cuff.

Cuff
Definition:	Make Up as You Go Along
Type:	Word (Slang)
Guessability:	3: Guessable
Typical Users:	Adults and Teenagers

Summary of Key Points for the Third Definition

Cuff also means "Hit Lightly."

Cuff
Definition:	Hit Lightly
Type:	Word
Guessability:	3: Guessable
Typical Users:	Adults and Teenagers

An Academic Look at Cuff

When used with the meanings "make up as you go along" and "tie down in a relationship," cuff is a slang word. Slang refers to words, phrases and uses of language that are regarded as very informal and which are often restricted to a special context or a particular group of users.