How to Ask a Woman for Date

Smile when she says "Yes."

Asking a woman on a date can be one of the most harrowing experiences. Sure, the experience can pay off grandly if you guys click, get engaged and then run away to Aruba together. But it can also leave you embarrassed or crushed. Some tips will help you get through the awkwardness of the moment and, even if she says no, make it seem like it's no big deal.

Instructions

1. Set the scene. Strike up a conversation with the woman you are targeting for a date. If it's someone you see quite often, like at work or around town, make sure to chat for a moment or two to get to know each other a bit better. This way you'll be sure if you actually want to spend a prolonged amount of time with her and gauge her interest in you. If it's someone you don't know, you can break the ice by saying something funny or clever. Make sure to walk up to her casually and smile so she sees you are friendly and receptive.

2. Find out what she likes to do. Talk about hobbies, passions, skills and other fun activities to see which ones make her eyes light up. If it's a stranger, take a stab at a guess. "You like a man who likes to go hiking." Even if your guess is incorrect, it will still lead to further conversation.

3. Drop hints. Once you know she likes you enough at least to stop and chat and you've found out she's an avid art lover, start bringing in the hints. "I, too, enjoy a good art exhibit. That would be great if we could maybe go to a gallery one day." If she scoffs or starts cackling, just go home. If she seems amenable to the suggestion, go on to the next step.

4. Ask casually. Drop the bomb but don't make it feel like a bomb. You can simply extend the hint into an actual conversation. "Hey, I just read that a Van Gogh exhibit is in town. I was thinking of going on Saturday. Would you like to come with me?" If you point out the activity was something you were going to do anyway, it doesn't seem as big a threat to her or as a big of a rejection to you if she does decline.

Tips & Warnings

• You don't have to ask for a date immediately. If it's someone you don't know but want to get to know better, you can ease into asking for a date by first asking for her phone number and if it's O.K. if you call her sometime. This gives you a bit more time to see if you would be compatible before plunging ahead on a date that may turn disastrous.