ick factor

Meaning

The 'ick factor' refers to a sudden, strong feeling of disgust, cringe, or turn-off toward someone or something, often for a trivial or highly specific reason. It is frequently used in dating contexts when a small habit or behavior instantly kills romantic attraction. It can also describe a general sense of repulsiveness about a situation or object.

Examples

• When he started chewing with his mouth open, the ick factor just hit me instantly.

  When he started chewing with his mouth open, the ick factor just hit me instantly.

• There's a major ick factor in how that company handles customer complaints.

  There's a major ick factor in how that company handles customer complaints.

• She's nice, but her habit of talking down to waiters gave me a massive ick factor.

  She's nice, but her habit of talking down to waiters gave me a massive ick factor.

• I tried to watch the show, but the cheesy dialogue had too much of an ick factor.

  I tried to watch the show, but the cheesy dialogue had too much of an ick factor.

• Once the ick factor sets in, it's almost impossible to find that person attractive again.

  Once the ick factor sets in, it's almost impossible to find that person attractive again.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ I feel very ick factor about his behavior.

  ✓ His behavior gave me the ick.

  'Ick factor' is a noun phrase, not an adjective. You cannot 'feel ick factor'; something has an ick factor, or you get 'the ick'.

• ✗ The food had a bad ick factor.

  ✓ The food had a major ick factor because of the texture.

  While it can mean disgust, 'ick factor' usually implies a psychological or social turn-off, or a specific cringeworthy detail, rather than just basic physical dirtiness.

Related Expressions

Practice

• Seeing him baby-talk to his dog gave me a serious ___.

  💡 A sudden feeling of cringe or turn-off.

  Show answer

  ick factor

• There is definitely an ___ to buying used makeup online.

  💡 A sense of repulsiveness or disgust.

  Show answer

  ick factor