If a friend asked you if you were hitting on someone, or if someone told you you were being hit on, it might seem a bit odd. I mean, you didn’t actually create any sort of violence with that person – why would they think you hit them?
In English slang, to hit on someone could mean that you are flirting with another person, or trying to get their attention for a date, relationship, or sex.
Some people feel that hitting on someone is more vulgar, or sexual, whereas flirting offers more positive, respectful connotations. Dictionary.com defines it as, “to proposition, to make advances,” which is a bit different as well. While flirting can just be flirting, hitting on someone implies that you want more, and your behaviour shows that you want an action to take place.
