go on a date

Meaning

To have a planned romantic meeting or outing with someone you are interested in. This is a standard, neutral phrase used by speakers of all ages to describe dating activities.

Examples

• We are going on a date this Friday to a new Italian restaurant.

  We are going on a date this Friday to a new Italian restaurant.

• When was the last time you two went on a date?

  When was the last time you two went on a date?

• I'm nervous because I haven't gone on a date in years.

  I'm nervous because I haven't gone on a date in years.

• They decided to go on a date after chatting online for a few weeks.

  They decided to go on a date after chatting online for a few weeks.

• He asked her to go on a date with him next weekend.

  He asked her to go on a date with him next weekend.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ We went to a date last night.

  ✓ We went on a date last night.

  We always use the preposition 'on' with 'go on a date', not 'to'.

• ✗ I am going to make a date with him.

  ✓ I am going on a date with him.

  'Make a date' sounds like you are scheduling a calendar appointment or deadline. To describe a romantic outing, use 'go on a date'.

Related Expressions

Practice

• They decided to ___ this Friday after meeting on an app.

  💡 To have a planned romantic meeting.

  Show answer

  go on a date

• We ___ last weekend and it went really well.

  💡 Use the past tense form of the phrase.

  Show answer

  went on a date