And this goes both ways. When did implied become the new direct? His point was that walking up to someone and bluntly asking them on a date it too forward and intimidating. Asking someone for coffee is easier than out on a date. Image via iStock. On the flip side of that, the first time he and I hung out, he did ask me out for dinner on a date. So we kept getting coffee, and eventually, he won me over with his sharp sense of humour and brilliant conversations and that stupid, charming grin.