When did going out for an evening turn into "date night"?

[MoodySky]

Sorry but it's such a crap expression.

Agreed.

Also, 'family fun day'.

Why is it?

Probably about the same time your kids having friends round to play turned into a 'playdate'

All very cringey.

We've always joked that the difference between date night and just going out is me shaving my legs and him shaving his face before we go out 😆

I was thinking this the other day. I find it a little odd and cringey too.

Agreed.

Same time your friends became your ‘friendship group’.

Seems to me that date night means that someone's on a promise at the end of the evening.

And the same time doing normal household stuff became 'life admin'

They are all cringeworthy expressions. I fear 'date night' might be an Americanism (I've heard it on Family Guy!) but I don't know about any others. I've also heard 'comfort break' at a training course at work; it's almost as bad as 'going to the bathroom'.

About the same time that doing anything around the home turned into a ‘life hack’ and earning a bit of pin money was a ‘side hustle’.

I think this is partly it, though!

It's about reframing things to be 'events'. It links back to mindfulness and gratitude, not just going through life taking things for granted or not paying much attention to what you're doing. Some people will find that cringey, but for other people, I think it's a psychological trick.

So glad I'm not alone in this! Makes me cringe every time I see it on social media.
As well as all of the above.

‘Date night’ really makes me cringe. Also, people saying they’re going ‘out out’.

Just stop it.

Arghhh I hate ‘date night’! So cringe. Maybe it applies to people who are actually dating though, I think dating is what you do prior to working out if you’re going to be boyfriend/girlfriend so perhaps it really is okay if you’re at this phase in life. But I’ve been with dh for 22 years, we aren’t dating! We just go out and do stuff together sometimes.

I sometimes wonder when the Personnel Department became Human Resources. I was happy being a person but it irritates me now that I am a resource.

No idea. We might go out for dinner or have a day out.

We only ever had two dates. We were never apart after our second date so DH never had to ask me out again. We just planned on doing stuff together thereafter. And have for 35 years.

That’s interesting about the psychological trick and making events out of everyday life. I wonder if this wouldn’t feel overwhelming, though, if everything is bigged up. I haven’t thought it through, just talking aloud.

Another is 'me time'

It's all People and Culture now.
It's mostly jargon and boileaux from a largely transactional service populated with people who pay money to the CIPD to retain the letters after their name. The CIPD self justifies to keep going.

HR Director by the way but close to retirement.

Agree OP. Ditto play date - when did that happen? It’s the naming of everything that does my head in - things just can’t happen, they have to be staged or ruminated over on social media (with the obligatory accompanying photo). I saw a post from a friend this week about her ‘friend date day’ - is this another new thing to set my teeth on edge? Self care and healing are also up there with the wanky phrases.

Totally agree. It's part of the Americanisation of the English language. I am happy to say I have never been on a "date night"!

To me date night means just the 2 of you

Going out for evening includes others and could involve the kids

It was a thing in my youth and I am retired now

Play dates didn't happen in my youth but when I was a parent they did - I associate them with the change in the freedom children are allowed - we just knocked on a mates door but that seems to be considered rude or neglectful or both by many these days

So they are not new terms at all

And I'm British with no US links

I take your date night and raise you "Daddy Daughter Day" (or Mummy / son) 🤮🤮🤮

but can we still go out to 'make memories'