Flirty Emoji Meanings To Know When Texting With Emoticons

As we all know, texting has become a major form of communication in all areas of life over the past decade or so, particularly in the realm of dating and relationships. Specifically, the wide variety of flirty emojis available on social media, dating apps, and customizable keyboards for both iPhones and Androids means these smileys and icons have evolved into their own sub-form of communication.

Some believe that when it comes to emoji flirting, less is more — depending on who you're chatting with, of course.

However, the opposite may be true.

Dr. Helen Fisher, a biological anthropologist at Rutgers University and one of the leaders of Match's annual Singles in America survey explains, “It turns out that 54% of emoji users had sex in 2014 compared to 31% of singles who did not."

So, no matter how you feel about emoticons on Snapchat, Facebook, or in text messages, it's a ball game you may want to start playing if you're trying to get your flirt on.

“Emoji users don’t just have more sex, they go on more dates and they are two times more likely to want to get married,” Fisher continued. “Sixty-two percent of emoji users want to get married compared to 30% of people who never used an emoji ... that’s pretty good.”

A study of more than 4,000 online daters by Zoosk confirmed that using flirty emojis really does make a difference.

More specifically, they found that a good flirty emoji has a nose! Using this emoticon — :-) — increases your likelihood of getting a response by 13 percent, while using this — : ) — makes you 66 percent more likely to be ignored.

Photo: Zoosk

So what can you do to send the right message when you're looking for love? Take your texting game to the next level by brushing up on emoji meanings, as well as on how and when you should utilize them to get yourself into the sexiest of situations possible.

Here are 13 flirting emoji meanings and how and when you should — and shouldn't — use them.

1. Kissing Face With Closed Eyes Emoji

Luckily for us, there's a handy emoji that combines a peck-on-the-cheek with a subtle blush. When sending the kissy faces, this emoticon can have one of two meanings. Either you are tickled pink by what you just read, or you're completely satisfied and speechless.

When to use this emoji: The Kissing Face With Closed Eyes is best used when your man has said or done something sweet and you feel he needs to be rewarded … with an emoticon.

2. Face With Stuck-Out Tongue and Tightly Closed Eyes, aka The Tongue

This emoticon is perfect for everyday flirting as it makes sense in an array of different situations. Face With Stuck-Out Tongue & Tightly Closed Eyes has a carefree playfulness to it that reacts well with jokes and witty one-liners.

When to use this emoji: To let him know you appreciate his sense of humor, add this one to your comeback and your flirty repartee is sure to continue for hours to come.

3. Smiling Face With Heart Eyes, aka Crazy Hearts

This little guy is so often taken in the wrong context that it's hard to know when to add this to one of your sexy one-liners.

When flirting over text, it is in your relationship's best interest to use Smiling Face With Heart Eyes sparingly. If you're casually typing this after every other sentence, homeboy might get a little freaked out and think you're obsessed.

When to use this emoji: This flirting emoticon is best used after a fun date. This would be a go-to when you want to ooze excitement but not seem overly invested.

4. Winking Face

Perhaps the most classic in the emoticon arsenal, Winking Face (aka Winky) is a fan favorite, and for good reason. It sends a straightforward message that you are detecting the underlying innuendo behind his words, and that you like it. A lot.

When to use this emoji: If you're done beating around the bush, feel free to send a scandalous message with a wink in order to get your point across. Winky is one he will never get sick of receiving and will always make you look like the cool girl.

5. Smiling Face With Halo, aka Angel Baby

The number one rule of emoticons is that Angel Baby means sex. There's really no way around it. Putting Angel Baby in any sentence simply says, "I am d-o-w-n to get dirty."

Don't let the angelic face fool you. It is basically the foreplay of the emoji world.

When to use this emoji: Whether you send it first or he does, there is bound to be some naughty action taking place as soon as you are face-to-face. You've been warned.

6. Smirking/Whimsical Face, aka Hey There

Subtle raise of the eyebrows, slight smile playing on the lips, sideways glance — yup, signs are all there. The words behind this emotion are pretty clear and come right out of the mouth of Joey from Friends: "How you doin''?"

From a girl, the smirking/whimsical face emoji means that she finds you attractive and is checking you out.

When to use this emoji: If you're liking what he's throwing out there, Hey There has to find a way to make it into your response. Words can only say so much. Once you send a Hey There, there's no returning to friend territory.

7. Face Blowing a Kiss, aka Hot Lips

A less steamy version of Angel Baby, Hot Lips is more appropriate for those with a pre-hookup status. This is the best emoji to send your crush to make it clear how you're feeling about them.

When to use this emoji: To let him know you can't stop thinking about his steamy kisses, send him a Hot Lips paired with an "XO" to get his wheels turning. It's all about planting the seed, and Hot Lips does just that.

Alternative: make your own Hot Lips by sending a quick snap after you've applied your fave lipstick.

8. See-No-Evil Monkey

Hear me out on this one. Sending facial expressions is all flirty and fun, but he's received those from tons of girls.

Want to stand out from the pack? Send a quirky emoticon like my personal favorite, "See No Evil" Monkey, to get him to take notice immediately.

When to use this emoji: The great thing about this one is you can pretty much add it to any sentence and it'll make him laugh, especially if you catch him off guard (aka send absolutely no emojis for a few days and then wham bam with the monkey). Just beware of overuse — its effect will wear off quickly and may end up turning you into a lobster from embarrassment.

9. Woman Gesturing OK, aka Tell Me I'm Pretty

This emoji is meant to be an OK, but I prefer to use it slightly differently. More like a flirty, "Thank you."

When to use this emoji: This emoji is best used to show humbling gratitude for a compliment.

10. Smiling Face With Horns, aka Devilish

11. The Drooling Emoji, aka I'm horny

This emoji is only meant for sexy flirting when you are horny (at least according to Urban Dictionary). When a guy uses the drooling emoji, it means that he finds you sexy.

When to use: You can incorporate this emoji, like the devil horns, when sexting. If your partner sends you something really hot or something that makes you horny, you can use the drooling emoji to show that you are drooling over that picture.

12. Upside-Down Smiley Face

What does the upside-down smiley face emoji mean from a girl? If you use the drooling emoji too much or in the wrong context your partner might respond with an upside-down smiley face which indicates that they feel awkward.

When to use this emoji: You can use this emoji when you might have said something awkward or when you mess up a text when flirting because it's a universal emoji that is used for awkward scenarios and moments.

13. Blushing Emoji

If there is one thing that translates just as well through technology as in real life, it's blushing.

What does the smiling blushing face emoji mean from a guy? A similar emoji to the blushing kissing face is the regular blushing smiling face, and in a flirty emoji text, the blushing smiling face means the guy likes you or shows that you made him blush.

When to use this emoji: This is a pretty easy and safe emoji to use when flirting because it shows you're genuinely excited and happy to be talking to a guy or a girl. It's one of the most popular flirty emojis to use because it's so universal.

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Alex Alexander is a frequent contributor to YourTango.