Public Displays of Affection: What's Appropriate?

Okay, first things first. There's nothing wrong with a little public display of affection (or PDA) when you're head-over-heels in love -- whether it's holding hands or cuddling up in the crowd. But there's such a thing as too much.

You've probably witnessed it first-hand: On the train, for instance, love-sick couples overtly French-kissing while the other passengers awkwardly pretend not to notice. Or inside the elevator, where an amorous pair can't keep their hands off each other. So naturally, it begs the question: What's the modern-day rule on PDA? When does public display of affection cross the line of decency and start to make bystanders gag?

"The thing to remember about PDA is that it's not so much about what you're comfortable doing in public, but being conscientious about how you're making other people feel, and more specifically, what they want their children exposed to," says Lisa Daily, dating coach and author of the bestselling book Stop Getting Dumped. It's about respect for the people around you, but ultimately it's also about respect for yourself. Here, she dishes the dirt on what's acceptable and what borders on gross.

Holding hands

As far as PDA goes, holding hands in public is completely acceptable and most people won't object to it. "Holding hands is not really a problem in most places," says Daily. If you want to let the world know you're a couple without going over-the-top, this is one of your best bets.

Cringe factor: 0/5

Caressing

What about touching beyond hands-holding? It all depends on where and how one is fondling. PG-rated caresses on the face, shoulders and waist are generally considered appropriate, but proceed with caution when it comes to pawing the butt as it starts to get awkward for public eyes. And as for the more intimate zones like the boobs, upper thighs and the groin? That's when groping becomes more than an eyesore -- save someone a meal and keep that private.

Cringe factor: Anything from 1/5 (wrapping arms around the waist) to 5/5 (heavy petting)

Kissing

Smooching done discreetly is a sweet gesture of love. But tread carefully, because steamy lip-locks can come off as incredibly tacky, says Daily. "Kissing -- other than a quick peck -- should not be a spectator sport." A kiss on the cheek is fine, and even a kiss on the mouth only ranks low on the cringe factor as long as it's not a long drawn-out affair. The worst offenders are kisses with heavy tongue action: "Nobody wants to watch you two give each other a tongue bath while we're stuck in line waiting for a mocha latte!" adds Daily.

Cringe factor: Anything from 1/5 (kiss on the cheeks) to 4/5 (kiss with tongues).

Pet names

Chances are, you've got at least one friend who insists on using cute pet names in public. For the most part, "sweetie", "honey", "darling" and the likes are socially acceptable, but anything that has a sexual connotation and anything spoken in babyish tones are a capital N-O.

Cringe factor: Anything from 1/5 to a full-blown 5/5

Public declarations of love

Classic phrases like "I love you" can be sweet, says Daily, but beware of overstepping the mark. They're generally acceptable as long as you keep them above board but anything mushy, or worse, X-rated means you've definitely crossed the line.

Cringe factor: From 1 (for G-rated declarations) up to 5 (for X-rated declarations)