Signs You’re About To Get Turkey Dumped This Thanksgiving

The big turkey dump: the thing we all mythologize and joke about online until it happens to one of us. It's the breakup that happens when your (ex) significant other spends their first year semester away at college, joining the inter-mural water polo team and doing shotskis with the psych-majors in their dorm, and then comes home for the holidays and breaks up with you to keep their options open for college.

It's tough because you really can't compete when you're not even there to throw your best party trick moves into the ring. It's a garbage situation, but here are some signs you know it's going to happen, just in case you want to emotionally prepare.

They Weirdly Want To Hangout On The Last Day

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Photo Credit: @prisiclladuperez / Unsplash

If they're so busy every other day of the break except for a 20 minute time window before their bus comes to take them back to school, then they're definitely thinking of breaking up. Sure, they didn't want to ruin their break and yours by doing it right at the beginning, but you've basically spent the entire time questioning everything out of stress and that's no better.

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You Didn't Get The Invite To Their Family Dinner

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Even though they know that their mom's cranberry sauce is like your favorite thing ever, they haven't given you the invite to their family's holiday dinner. If they're saying things like "it's close-knit this year" or "my grandma just wants it quiet" then that's a big sign you might be getting shown the door.

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They Didn't Even Let You Know They're Home

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If the first time you're hearing that your significant other is back in town is through a Snapchat or Instagram story instead of a text, then you might be on the outs. If they were really all that pumped to share a turkey leg with you over some mashed potatoes then they'd try and arrange that ASAP, not update all their friends about their whereabouts.

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There's Been A Makeover

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We all change once we start school—it's part of growing up. But if you're noticing some drastic stuff in three months like a new look, a new perspective, and completely new hobbies like rock climbing to dubstep music, chances are you might be getting changed out too and there's a rock-climbing cutie they might have their eye on.

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Their Friends Have Started Acting Strange Around You

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If they've been thinking about breaking up with you then they've probably shared their doubts with their closest friends—which is why group hangouts have suddenly gotten kind of weird. If their friends have started to distance themselves from you and not be quite as stoked on your presence in the last couple weeks then you could be in for the dump.

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You've Actually Never Met Their Family

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Thanksgiving is a make or break for new relationships, so if you've never met their family before the big day, prepare to get an invite to the dinner or prepare for them to dump you. Either way, everything's going to be awkward and weird, so best of luck to you.

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There's This New Girl Or Guy From Their Chem Tutoring Group That's Just So Cool

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If you've ever been to college, you know that the people you meet in class are the ones you end up spending pretty much all of your free time with and getting close to because you're all trying not to flunk out. So if they keep mentioning a new name that just so happens to platonically be in every class and molecular bonding study session then chances are sparks are flying over those model kits.

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You Feel Like You're Drifting

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If you used to get a bunch of life updates about where they are, what quiz they're absolutely bombing, or questions about what kind of rips they should have in their jeans, but now are getting barely a message a day, then you should get ready for a break. If they're unconsciously distancing themselves then it's a sign they're really not into the relationship anymore.

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They're Just Disagreeing With You For Fun

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If you say you like the color blue, they say they like red. If you like a TV show, suddenly it's the worst one they've ever heard of. If they're just being contrarians to pick fights with you a) that's childish and b) a symptom of a much larger problem they have with you. Don't go into a relationship-ending battle over liking NCIS, just ask them what their deal is.

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They're Out All The Time. All Of It.

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Not to suspect that people who party a lot cheat, but if they're partying a lot, it's pretty safe to say that they at least have a lot of friends. If they're spending more time growing relationships with other people than answering your texts, you may just not be as big a part of their life anymore. Dollar drinks at the bar has filled that void for them.

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They're On Their Phone, A Lot, During Break

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Okay yeah, not to be overly suspicious but they could be messaging their friends. But nobody's really glued to their phones and smiling while texting that much during the holiday movie you're watching together unless they're texting someone they potentially like. Someone else they could be watching A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving with.

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They Give You The "Let's Meet At Starbucks" Text When You Usually Go Over To Their House

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This one is especially weird if it comes after a month of distant behavior and not responding enthusiastically, if at all, to your texts. If they want to see you over the break in a public place where you can't really scream-cry out loud without a bunch of embarrassment, then that's going to be your final meeting as a couple.

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They're All Of A Sudden Not Big On The Whole "Family" Thing

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Even though you know their mom will literally shell out to get the good napkins for the big family roast dinner they have every Sunday, all of a sudden they tell you Thanksgiving isn't a "big deal" in their house? That's a bold lie and definitely one they're using as a buffer to later not invite you for holiday dinner.

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Your Plans Keep Getting Postponed Or Canceled

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Okay, you've made plans to go do some cute holiday stuff like go to a Thanksgiving-themed pottery class to make little clay turkeys together, so you're obviously in the clear. Except you're not. If they keep canceling your plans or falling ill at the last minute, it's possible that they're not sure they want to hang out with you at all anymore.

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That Philosophy Class Has Them Changing Their Perspective

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If they've been dropping really inspiring and life-changing quotes into your conversations or posting on social media about clearing their head and needing to "grow as a person," it's probably the end of the rope on the relationship. Anyone who's "finding themselves" usually does it without a significant other.

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They Keep Reminding You That You're In A Long-Distance Relationship

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Before you two parted ways for school, you two proclaimed that you wouldn't let distance tear you apart, but now all of a sudden they're obsessed and keep bringing that fact up. If they're always complaining that you guys "never see each other" or the "summer was so much better" but making no effort to make a trip to see you, they're dropping subtle hints they're over this whole long-distance thing.

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You're Not Feeling The Tension... You Know The Kind

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If they've been ignoring your risqué text messages and saying "goodnight" immediately and no longer paying you those special kinds of compliments, they may be pulling back on the relationship. If there's been a lack of the adult kinds of long-distance fun recently, then the relationship's climax might be in sight. And not the good kind.

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Are They Going To Be Home Or At A Ski Resort? You Have No Clue

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If your significant other is being mysterious about their holiday whereabouts, saying they "might" be home, at a friend's, at school studying, or out of the country altogether without keeping you updated, then they're probably just trying to slip out of hanging out with you. You might be getting a turkey dump call soon from a pay phone because they're really not taking chances and giving away their location.

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They're Not Telling You About Their Accomplishments Anymore

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If you used to be their number one supporter for every driving test pass, test A, or deal they scored at the thrift store, but now you're lucky to get an update on whether or not they're still in their college program, you should get ready for the dump. They might be going to someone else for support or really just don't care about your praise anymore.

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Formal Season Has Come But You Haven't Got An Invite

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The holiday season means that formals are upon us, and your significant other needs a date. If they're not bringing it up with you a few weeks in advance to give you time to get a formal outfit together, then they may just be considering going stag.