Hatfish
To hide a receding hairline with a hat
Example
So, how did your date with Chris go last night? You seemed excited!
Ugh, total hatfish. Every single picture had a hat, and now I know why. He took it off at dinner, and it was like… a plot twist
That should be a dating app red flag by now
IKR? From now on, if every pic has a hat, I’m asking for a no-hat selfie before meeting up
How well do you know your texting slang?
Hatfish is a playful slang term used to describe someone, usually a man, who wears a hat to conceal a receding hairline or bald head, only to reveal the surprise once the hat is removed. The term is a play on catfish, but instead of hiding one's identity online, a hatfish conceals their hair situation in real life. People often use it in dating contexts, especially on apps, where someone's carefully curated hat-filled selfies might lead others to feel misled once the hat comes off.
The term gained traction in the late 2010s as a noun and a verb among younger adults on social media and meme pages, especially as online dating became more visual and first impressions were often made via photos. While it's usually meant to be humorous, some people may receive it negatively since it is related to body image, confidence, and the pressure to look a certain way.