thin-slice

present singular third person thin-slices · participle present thin-slicing · participle past thin-sliced · past thin-sliced

1. ambitransitivehuman sciencesTo make quick inferences about something through thin-slicing.

   If you've ever changed seats on a train or crossed the road to avoid someone, because there was something "not quite right about them", you've used your ability to thin-slice. […] but we thin-slice people in all kinds of situations, not just when we feel threatened.

   2009 March 7, Rosie Ifould, “Acting on impulse”, in The Guardian

   1 more example

   Of course, first impressions are critical in any context, but especially when there's a potential relationship on the line[…]. That's because humans have a natural desire to "thin slice"—as in, digest small amounts of information (like, what's in your bio) to determine bigger decisions (read: whether this person is worth a date...or more).

   2023 March 6, Alexis Jones, Megan Schaltegger, “These Tinder Conversation Starters Actually Work, According To Dating Experts”, in Women's Health