15 Signs Your Partner’s About to Propose (And You Might Not Even Know It)

Is your other half acting a little weird? Not quite off, but a little… different? Maybe you’ve spotted them looking at your hand, caught them browsing a jewellery website, or even walked in on them rummaging through your jewellery collection, then watched as they not-so-coolly tried to play it down.

If so, could it mean that they’re about to pop the question?

Okay, so not all signs your partner is about to get down on one knee are quite as on-the-nose as these, but you could have your own sneaky suspicions that your partner might be getting ready to pop the question. You might have been together for five months or five years – the time you’ve been together doesn’t really give much away. But what could give it away are the clumsy, adorable clues that they’re trying desperately to hide.

So, what exactly should you look out for if you suspect your partner might like it and is about to put a ring on it? Below, we’ll run through 15 signs that your partner is about to propose, so you can dare to dream that you might soon be visiting venues, tasting cake samples and picking out colour pairings. 

Of course, don’t take this list as gospel, but it should help you piece together the puzzle your partner is trying to keep hidden away until the time’s right… But, just like when you were a kid at Christmas, it can’t hurt to take a sneaky look at the back of the cupboard (not literally, of course) to see if you’re about to get an extra special gift from the Santa in your life!

1. They’re suddenly more secretive (but not otherwise distant)

You and your partner might be great communicators, sharing everything from what you had for lunch at work to pictures of the cat you saw on your walk that afternoon. But, one of the best signs that your partner is planning something big is that they suddenly become a lot more secretive.

Maybe they take a phone call, but won’t tell you who it was from. Or they have to run out to run a mysterious errand during the middle of the day. Or close computer browser windows quicker than a teenage boy. If it feels like they have a lot more secrets than usual, it isn’t necessarily a bad thing, especially if the rest of your relationship dynamic is the same and they haven’t become distant.

2. Future talk is constant

In the past, you’ve probably spoken a lot about what your future might look like. A home. Pets. Kids. Holidays. Not necessarily in that order, but you’ve at least covered the key life stages during your time together.

But now, has there been a noticeable increase in looking towards the future? Or a change in the wording of certain shared dreams?

For example, instead of, ‘If we buy a place together…’ is it now, ‘When we buy a place together…’?

Or perhaps they’re asking you not-so-rhetorical questions about how you’d like to be proposed to or what your ideal wedding looks like?

If your partner previously wasn’t too forthcoming with future talk, but they’re now name-dropping your future dog’s name at dinner, something’s definitely up.

3. They’re best friends with your family now

At one point, your other half was probably pretty nervous about spending time with your family. Making a good impression and being ‘good enough’ were major concerns. But now that the pressure has waned and they (hopefully) get on with your family like a house on fire, they’re far more likely to pop the question – especially if your family and your partner are the traditional sort who are likely to ask permission before asking for your hand.

Has your partner’s behaviour towards your family changed recently? Are they more relaxed, maybe acting like they belong? If your partner is suddenly the favourite (maybe even more than you!), then that’s a strong sign that something sparkly could be on its way to your finger soon.

4. Their phone (or computer) is suddenly off-limits

It’s important that there are boundaries between you and your partner. We all need them, along with trust and understanding. But, has your partner become a little too overprotective of their phone recently? They might have even changed their passcode, or they’re reluctant to let you use their phone to Google that one thing that’s really bugging you… 

The thing is, it’s easy to see things on your partner’s phone or laptop that they might not want you to see. A text that pops up to say, your engagement ring order is ready to collect, or an invoice email from a jewellers, or fraserhart.co.uk autocompletes in the web browser when you were typing F for Facebook…

Proposal research will take up a lot of your partner’s headspace and browsing history, so expect them to not be too keen to share their devices with you if they’re planning a particularly big and romantic gesture.

5. They’re nervous for no reason

Does your partner seem a little more on edge than usual? Do they look like they’re miles away, thinking about something you’re not privy to? Maybe they’re rehearsing something in their head, or weirdly jumpy.

Proposing to someone you love and want to spend the rest of your life with is a massive deal. Even if you’re certain they’re going to say yes, there’s still that little bit at the back of your mind that says, what if they say no? It’s that fear that makes proposing so scary, which can really play on your mind during the build-up. This counts double if your partner is already a fairly anxious person. So, if they seem extra tense at the moment, and there’s no other reason for it, they could be building up to it in their head.

6. They’re suddenly very attentive

When your partner has decided to propose, it means they’re all in on you – they’re committed to spending the rest of their life with you and building a life and family together. And that mindset can make someone who’s head over heels in love with you become even more attentive than they already were.

Does your partner surprise you with coffee at the office or open the car door? Did they treat you to a home-cooked meal, a bubble bath or your favourite playlist ‘just because’?

When someone is gearing up to ask the biggest question of their life, they often go into maximum romance mode. It’s absolutely adorable, if not a little suspicious!

7. You catch them staring at you more often

So you’re slobbing around at home after a busy day at work, you have eyebags and an oversized t-shirt on that screams ‘not going out’, yet you look across at your partner and catch them staring.

What are you up to?, you think.

When you ask ‘what?’, they say ‘nothing,’ but their smile says, ‘OMG I’m about to propose this person.’

They’re probably imagining how you’d react when you popped the question, visualising you in a wedding dress, wondering what your cake might look like or how they’re supposed to drop to one knee without falling over.

8. They’re weirdly interested in your jewellery/gemstone preferences

If your partner isn’t really into jewellery, it can be a little suspicious when they suddenly start to show an interest in the sort of things you like, or you would like… especially if the conversation sways onto engagement rings.

‘What sort of precious stone would you want in an engagement ring, anyway?’ they might ask, throwing in the anyway to try and act casual. Questions like this can be innocent, but there’s often a little intent behind them, especially when alongside some of the other signs.

9. Engagements are suddenly a hot topic

In the past, your partner might not have shown much interest in engagements. But now? Well, they can’t get enough. And it might not be that they’re hugely into the love lives of others, but they’re looking for hints, tips and ideas about what to do for their own proposal. See what happens if you tell them about a friend who got engaged – do they have 100 questions about the wheres and whats, then pay extra close attention to your answers?

Another giveaway is their algorithm. If you enjoy scrolling through Insta Reels or TikToks together and see a big increase in the number of proposal-related videos, then that means your partner has been watching a lot of related content.

Basically, they’ve been doing their homework.

10. They’ve asked about your ring size…

One thing that will be high on your partner’s list of concerns is getting the size of the engagement ring right so it slips onto your finger the first time with no awkwardness. To do this, they might try and find out your ring finger in some rather interesting ways.

‘Do you know what your ring size is?’, they might ask nonchalantly. Or they might ask your best friend, or even your mum.

Another thing they might do is sneak into your jewellery box to measure your ring, or take it to a jeweller who can do it for them. So if you suddenly find your jewellery isn’t in the same place you left it, this could be why.

If you’re the one proposing, and looking for a way to find out your partner’s ring finger without giving away the surprise, read our guide on how to secretly measure your partner’s ring finger.

11. Your friends and family are acting differently too

It’s not just your other half who might start being a bit sus. Sometimes, when someone is getting ready to propose, they might speak to your family or friends to find out some juicy info and try not to raise your suspicions. Things like your ring size, how you might like to be proposed to, cancelling pre-made plans without you knowing… as well as the traditional ‘asking for permission’ conversation with the parents, which many still like to honour before making it official.

And if this happens with your family and friends, you might notice more than if just your partner starts to act differently. Most people are actually terrible liars, so they will really struggle to play it cool. It might be dropped eye contact or stumbling over words… a secret as amazing as an impending engagement is a big deal, after all.

And if someone tells you to ‘wear something nice’ or ‘think about getting your nails done’, then… well… maybe it’s about to happen.

12. A fancy date is randomly in the calendar

The two of you no doubt do a lot together, whether it’s a trip to the cinema, a day at the zoo, a cheeky midweek Nando’s… but, outside of special occasions, you might not do much that’s terribly fancy or expensive. Except now, perhaps?

If your partner has booked a fancy rooftop venue or reserved a picnic spot in the park at sunset, it could just be more than your average date night. Especially if they say ‘let’s take a walk after dinner,’ and start sweating before dessert!

13. They’ve been weirdly responsible with money

If your partner has historically been pretty laid-back about their spending habits, a major sign that things are about to change is when that suddenly changes. After all, engagement rings are expensive. Weddings are expensive. Honeymoons are expensive.

If your partner checks their banking app a lot more regularly, cuts out the impulse purchases and suggests buying frozen pizza instead of ordering in, they could just be planning a rather huge purchase in the not-too-distant future.

14. They’re noticing your nails… and out of nowhere

If your partner has done their research and is about to adorn your ring finger with something lovely and shiny and expensive, they’ll no doubt be aware that following that moment comes a flurry of excited photographs. Maybe even an official engagement photoshoot. Either way, there’ll be loads of close-up photographs taken of your ring finger.

That means a partner who hasn’t taken much interest in your manicure habits may suddenly have a change of heart. Especially if they know you’d be fuming if you had chipped nails or half-chewed acrylics in those social media announcement photos. It might be time to start wondering what’s going on if they suggest that you should get your nails done, or even treat you to a manicure themselves, especially if it’s before a particular date.

15. You found something you weren’t supposed to

You go into the bedroom to put some clothes away in a drawer and… what’s that? A small box. That wasn’t there before, was it? You take it out to see if you’ve misplaced something, and… oops. You’ve just stumbled across a ring.

It doesn’t always have to be this obvious, either. It could be an open tab on a browser or a receipt that drops out of their wallet. You weren’t snooping; it was just an accident. This is quite a common way for people to find out that their partner is about to propose, but that definitely isn’t a suggestion from us for you to start rummaging through cupboards hoping to stumble across something!

And if you do, you’d best start practising your surprised face now!

So… is it happening?

The above 15 signs are a great indication that your partner might be about to propose. But, at the same time, it could just be a coincidence.

Or maybe not…

Until they get down on one knee, it’s hard to say for sure. But, if you spot five or more of these signs, there’s certainly a good chance that it’s about to happen.

No matter when it happens, just remember: the proposal is just the start of an amazing new adventure. And after that, the fun part starts… wedding planning!

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Browse other similar articles:

• 15 Romantic Marriage Proposal Ideas
• 6 Marriage Proposal Mistakes to Avoid
• 20 Things to Do After You Get Engaged: The Complete Step-by-Step Guide
• How to Announce Your Engagement: 20 Top Tips and Ideas

Happy Planning!