The Brief: Breadcrumbing or bread crumbing means leading someone on, usually in a dating scenario.

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Also known as “Hansel and Gretelling,” breadcrumbing refers to when one person continues to flirt with another, even though they do not have intentions of taking things further. It’s also considered to be a low-effort form of flirtation. Breadcrumbing usually refers to digital interactions such as texting or sending DM’s.