An "ick" is a term used to describe a feeling of disgust or a turnoff that someone experiences towards a current or potential partner. It is usually brought on by a very small but specific thing, such as a quality, habit, or event that repels the person from the object of their desire. The term was first coined by Olivia Attwood, a contestant on the reality dating show Love Island in 2017. Although the term has recently become popular on TikTok and Instagram, it is not something only teenagers experience, and it is an actual psychological phenomenon that weve probably all dealt with at some point in our lives. The ick can be triggered by witnessing some kind of turn-off, such as a bad dance move, a grating laugh, or an off-putting eating style. While some icks are born out of a persons imagination, others are born in the wild, a product of a persons most embarrassing moment. Although the ick can be a means to showcase vulnerability and humanness, it can also be a childish way to talk about rejecting people because you are not that into them.