It’s Friday night, and you’ve spent one hour getting ready. You’re wearing your most flattering little black dress and those heels that elongate your legs. But why aren’t the boys coming?

Men can suffer from Caligynephobia (also known as Venustraphobia) – the fear of chatting up beautiful women. Alternatively, your body language might be putting out the wrong signals.

If you really fancy this dude, sometimes, the simplest method works. Just go up to him and introduce yourself with a firm handshake. “Hi, I’m Laura, and you are?” Find a common ground so you can continue chatting – ask about his job, how often he parties, his interests, etc. It can get pretty noisy in a club, but having a conversation can also give you the perfect opportunity to lean in closer to your target. Being able to hold a decent conversation and not giggling at everything will create the impression you’re genuinely interested in getting to know him. Once you’ve warmed him up, he might just take the initiative to ask you for your number.

However, if he doesn’t seem interested - perhaps he’s folding his arms or not making eye contact - make a graceful exit. Say you’ve enjoyed your chat, but you need to get back to your friends. He’s not the only fish in the pond; there’s an ocean of men out there.