Expert warns there’s one six-word phrase that means you’re about to be broken up with

Anyone who has experienced the modern dating climate for even a brief moment will know all about how rough it can be.

Not only have singletons got to worry about an ever-growing dating dictionary full of bizarre lingo - think the dreaded 'Ben stage', being 'zombied' and even getting 'roached' - but they've also got to look out for a number of 'red flag' phrases which could indicate some major relationship issues later down the line.

And the latest piece of advice sees one expert issue an urgent warning over a six-word phrase that apparently means that you’re about to be broken up with.

One relationships expert has issued a stark warning over a specific six-word phrase (Filmstax / Getty Images)

Louanne Ward, a qualified matchmaker and coach who hails from Perth in Australia, told MailOnline exactly why the short phrase is way more of a 'warning' than words of 'reassurance'.

And the phrase in question?

"I don't want to hurt you."

The expert explained: "When somebody says, 'I don't want to hurt you', what they're really saying is they believe you have more feelings for them than what they have for you."

According to Louanne, this means the person is 'not fully invested' in the relationship as 'they know you care more than they do and they're laying the groundwork to excuse their future bad behaviour'.

Ouch.

Carrying on, the matchmaker noted that the phrase is far from 'sparing your feelings' and is actually about 'sparing their guilt'.

The phrase is apparently less about 'sparing your feelings' and more about 'sparing their guilt' (Delmaine Donson / Getty Images)

"If someone warns you, listen carefully and protect your heart," Louanne urged, noting that if someone was serious about the relationship, then there wouldn't be any need to 'hurt you' because they would see you in their future.

She continued: "The simple fact is, if somebody doesn't see you as a potential long-term partner and doesn't have strong enough feelings for you, they can see that they can potentially hurt you."

Not only that, but the person saying the phrase may even see themselves in a good light, as a 'nice, caring and kind person' for giving you a heads up before your heart shatters into a million teeny tiny pieces.

"They don't have to feel guilty about it because they warned you," Louanne resolved, before reiterating her final warning: "If you hear that line, 'I don't want to hurt you', it's time to re-evaluate and reassess because this person is going to end up hurting you if you stay where you are."

There's always the off-chance the person saying 'I don't want to hurt you' may just be saying that because, well, they truly mean it - but it's clear this expert is far from convinced.