What is the Orange Peel test going viral on TikTok? (2024)

Emilie Lavinia

·3 min read

According to TikTok, the only way to really tell if someone loves you is to ask them to, er, peel an orange for you. Over 46m users are weighing in on the viral “orange peel theory”. But this trend isn’t *actually* about oranges. The idea is that a small act of kindness, such as peeling an orange, can demonstrate how your other half shows up for you in a relationship.

The theory isn’t new though. It actually comes from relationship therapist, Dr John Gottman, and is an example of something called “bids”. A bid is “a request from one partner to another for attention, affirmation, affection, or any other positive connection.”

According to Gottman, women make more bids than men and perhaps there’s a reason for that – in a world where many relationships are characterised by weaponised incompetence, sometimes it’s nice to be reminded that your man cares enough to do little things for you. Gottman says men sometimes struggle to pay attention to the nuances around small favours and the subtext behind them, but he does also say that in the healthiest relationships, both partners are comfortable making all kinds of bids.

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“A partner's reaction to the request of peeling an orange can provide some insights into how they show up to a relationship.” explains Amber Brooks of DatingAdvice.com. “Do they question your motives? Do they feel too busy or too stressed to offer help? These questions matter beyond the small task of peeling an orange, and it is good for couples to think along these lines if they are serious about making a commitment and building a life together.”

What is the Orange Peel test going viral on TikTok? (2)

Asking your partner, “can you pass me that? Could you open this for me? Could you make me a cup of tea?” might seem innocuous, but your partner’s response to a bid can tell you a lot about how supportive they are and how willing they are to make time for you and take your needs into account.

“Some people have off days, and decent partners might reasonably wonder if you have more time to peel your own orange.” explains Brooks. “The choice to peel or not peel isn't a long-term statement of character by any means. This is just one data point for daters to consider as they determine if their partner can meet their needs, from breakfast and beyond.”

Of course, not peeling an orange for you if they’re busy isn’t necessarily a red flag. It might not even be a beige flag, they simply might just not have the time or inclination. And let’s remember that not everyone expresses love in the same ways. We all have different love languages and communication styles and some people are more into small acts of service than others.

But Tiktokkers have wasted no time in putting the orange peel theory to the test, documenting their SO’s responses to little requests. Should you dump your boyfriend if he won’t peel an orange for you? Probably not, but according to relationship experts like Gottman, asking him for the occasional favour could give you an insight into how selfless he can be and, vice versa.

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What is the Orange Peel test going viral on TikTok? (2024)

FAQs

What is the Orange Peel test going viral on TikTok? ›

The orange peel theory basically describes. that when your partner does an active service for you, that's something. that you are perfectly capable of doing on your own. This is for really small stuff, like, for example, peeling an orange.

What is the orange peel theory on TikTok? ›

The orange peel theory basically describes. that when your partner does an active service for you, that's something. that you are perfectly capable of doing on your own. This is for really small stuff, like, for example, peeling an orange.

What is the orange peel test for dating? ›

The gist: If your partner strips the rind off the citrus and serves it to you with kindness, then their love is for real. If your partner refuses, then this love is hollow and false, and you must now make a deal with a sea witch or reenter the dating pool.

What is the peel an orange challenge? ›

But it is a good way to get views! Why are women asking their male partners to peel their oranges? Welcome to the “orange peel theory”: the idea that asking your partner to perform the small task of peeling an orange is one way to test their appreciation and love.

What is the orange test on TikTok? ›

It refers to a relationship “test” many couples are using to gauge the strength of their partnership. The challenge calls for participants to ask their partner to peel an orange for them. If their significant other says yes, that means they are willing to help with small tasks.

What is the orange peel trend? ›

The very small, insignificant-seeming task of peeling an orange for your love (without being asked) is, to many, proof that a partner truly loves and appreciates them. View full post on Tiktok.

What is the orange theory on TikTok? ›

TikTok seems to think so. A trend dubbed the “Orange Peel Theory” has been going viral on the social media platform, asking people to consider the ways small acts of service, such as peeling an orange for a partner or making coffee in the morning, can show an individual's commitment to their relationship.

What is the TikTok orange Challenge? ›

So the idea. is that you ask your spouse to do something that's not, like, a fun task, but they do it for your enjoyment. So in this case, it's peeling an orange so that you can enjoy the orange.

What is the orange test for boyfriends? ›

Several different tests have trended this year. One of the most popular is the orange peel “theory” (we use the word very lightly here), in which the tester tells their partner they feel like eating an orange. Some partners simply acknowledge the comment, while others actually go and get an orange.

What is the orange peel concept? ›

The 'orange peel theory' that has gone viral on the internet, is like a litmus test to figure out if your partner is truly in love with you or not. The theory states that if your partner peel oranges for you without asking, he/she is truly in love with you.

What is an example of the orange peel theory? ›

The simple but significant gestures could be making a coffee first thing in the morning, or putting the kids to bed so you don't have to—they're things you could easily do yourself, but it's deeply appreciated when someone does it for you.

What is this new orange peel dating theory? ›

The orange-peel theory, as it is now known, is simple. If you asked a partner (or even a friend!) to peel an orange for you, would they do it or shoo you away? Peeling an orange, of course, does not take much effort and tends to be a basic motor function most humans develop by the age of 5.

What is the peel orange theory? ›

The Orange Peel Theory is from a viral TikTok trend where you ask your partner to bring you an orange. If they bring it to you peeled and ready to eat, it indicates that they're thoughtful and caring. If they bring it to you with the rind still on, then they may not be as considerate as you were hoping.

What does "I peeled my orange" mean on TikTok? ›

I peeled my orange today = heart broken #ipeeledmyorangetoday #ipeeledmyorange #heartbreak #heartbreak💔 #heartbreakquotes.

What is the orange peel problem? ›

Orange peel is a paint defect that occurs during the formation of the film of the paint, characterized for presenting an appearance similar to that of an orange peel. This paint defect occurs mainly in spray gun applications. CAUSES: Insufficient paint dilution.

What does orange peel skin indicate? ›

Orange-peel skin is a skin alteration that appears when the subcutaneous fat tissue accumulates between the collagen cells in the dermis, which causes it to lose its original structure and, on the surface, the appearance of an arrangement of small nodules that look like this fruit's peel.

What is the orange peel theory in relationships? ›

The Orange Peel Theory is from a viral TikTok trend where you ask your partner to bring you an orange. If they bring it to you peeled and ready to eat, it indicates that they're thoughtful and caring. If they bring it to you with the rind still on, then they may not be as considerate as you were hoping.

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