1. The car hug
Let’s be real, no one should be trying to hug anyone in a car. There is an awkward amount of distance between the hugger and the hugee, which creates a huge barrier. And even worse, you’re sitting down. No one is meant to give hugs sitting down. Seat belts don’t help.
2. The arm-sling hug
The arm-sling hug happens when you go into hug someone, but they don’t hug you back. So then you end up accidentally putting your arm around them, and it kind of looks like you’re trying to make a move …but really, you were just trying to be friendly. Laugh it off and crack a joke about it, and maybe they won’t think you’re creepy.
3. The “you’re too tall for me” hug
This occurs when you try to hug someone who is actually a giant. You feel like a child when you hug them, and you’re so close to their chest that you can hear them breathing.
4. The “you’re too short for me” hug
In contrast, this type occurs when you try to hug someone who is way shorter than you are. The whole time you’re probably thinking, “Can I pick this person up, or is that weird?”
5. The sideways hug
The sideways hug occurs when two people turn in the same direction to try to hug each other. The sideways hug comes in handy if you’re trying to friend zone someone. This strategy works every time because they won’t be able to handle how uncomfortable you make them (I speak from personal experience.)
6. The stiff hug
The stiff hug occurs when one person is waaaaay more into the hug than the other person - aka the “goodbye hug” that occurs after a bad date because you don’t want to deal with a goodnight kiss. Instead of blatantly saying, “I’m not interested in you,” the stiff hug is a discreet but effective way of letting someone down easy.
7. The lingering hug
Is it just me, or has it been a while? Is it rude to pull away?
8. Intended handshake turned into hug
This hug usually occurs when you are trying to maintain a level of formality with someone you might not know well. Example: you run into your friend getting coffee with a professor you vaguely recognize but never had a class with. As a polite gesture, you want to introduce yourself and hold out your hand … but her professor is already mid-hug. There’s no going back now, just keep swimming.
9. The creepy handsy hug
Wait a second, did I just feel your hand on my butt? Are you hugging me or groping me? Please stop.
10. The backpack hug
If one or both parties are wearing a backpack, hugging is especially difficult because you can't physically wrap your arms around the other person.
While it is not ideal to have to endure these bad hugs, doing so will help you appreciate a truly successful hug more than you have, or would have ever imagined.
