Teacher accidentally tells students to 'hook up' for years

A college professor thought she was giving students wholesome advice about self-care, but she was accidentally suggesting something very different.

The 34-year-old teacher regularly listed "Netflix and chill" as one of her favorite hobbies on class icebreakers. When students mentioned feeling stressed, she'd encourage them to take time for themselves and "Netflix and chill."

She had no idea the phrase was a euphemism for hooking up until a lunch visit to her husband's workplace changed everything. While chatting with his coworkers, she mentioned being on maternity leave and said she couldn't wait until her infant was older so she could "Netflix and chill" again.

One coworker's shocked expression stopped the conversation cold. When he explained the phrase's real meaning, she was stunned. A 50-year-old female coworker confirmed it, saying even she knew what it meant.

The professor shared her mortifying discovery on Reddit, worried she'd accidentally been telling students she loved hooking up. In her defense, "Netflix and chill" did originally mean relaxing while streaming, but that definition died around 2015.

She and her husband married young and never used dating apps, which helped her miss the cultural shift. During college, she lived at home and worked two jobs, so her version of "Netflix and chill" was literally watching shows and relaxing.

Sunny's Take

Reddit users quickly reassured her that students either found her adorably clueless or assumed she was a very cool, sex-positive teacher. Some commenters were shocked she'd missed such a widespread phrase for nearly a decade, joking that she'd been "living under a rock."

The professor handled the embarrassment with humor, inviting anyone else who'd missed the memo to come over for actual Netflix watching. She promised to supply the popcorn.

Sometimes our most cringe-worthy moments become our best stories, reminding us that laughter at ourselves is one of life's best medicines.