breadcrumbing

Breadcrumbing is when someone keeps you on the hook by tossing you tiny bits of attention, like likes, flirty texts, or “hey” messages, but they never actually commit or move things forward. It is basically emotional meal-prepping, just enough carbs to keep you hungry, not enough dinner to satisfy. If you are constantly guessing where you stand, congrats, you are being served breadcrumbs, not a relationship. (psychologytoday.com