Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Lifestyle

Placeholder partners: are you ‘the one’ – or just being used as a stopgap?

A man and woman smile at the camera as they wrap their arms around each other.
Seat-warmer … Emily, right, who married Ross, left, when he still had feelings for Rachel in Friends. Photograph: NBCUniversal/Getty Images

Name: Placeholder partner.

Age: As a phrase, new. As a concept, less so. It’s probably become more prevalent with the abundance of dating apps.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.