There’s someone out there for everyone, according to the familiar saying.
But there’s no denying that some people have better luck on the romantic front than others.
Now research has revealed the characteristics most women look for in a man – and vice versa – in a bid to establish a clearer picture of the ‘ideal’ date.
The study, conducted by dating site Match, found that most women are looking for a blue-eyed doctor with a ‘dad bod’ to settle down with.
Men, meanwhile, are in the market for blondes who make their living through freelance work.
Here Femail reveals more about the attributes that men and women are looking for in their perfect partner.
Match has been researching all the traits that make our ideal partners and created an infographic (pictured) of men and women’s choices
THE IDEAL WOMAN
It seems gentlemen really do prefer blondes, as the research shows most men are looking for a woman with fair hair.
Blue eyes proved to be the most popular, but most men prioritised a nice smile over eye colour.
Ink is back in fashion too as men are attracted to women who have a strategically placed tattoo.
Appearances aside, it seems self-employed women are the most appealing to the opposite sex.
Freelancers, besides being freed from the shackles of a desk job, are also more popular on the dating front than doctors, teachers or architects.
Men want a partner with blonde hair and blue eyes, while women prefer brunette men with dad bods
Spanish speakers are a turn on for the modern man, and they also like women who enjoy hiking as a hobby.
The ideal woman is a dog person who only exercises once or twice a week, and she isn’t a fussy eater.
Men are attracted to women who enjoy hiking, while women want a man who enjoy swimming
THE IDEAL MAN
Women are just as picky as men when it comes to picking a partner, it seems, and want a man with short, dark brown hair and blue eyes.
The ideal is a man with a ‘dad bod’ – an average build that isn’t too muscular, skinny or heavy-set.
Just like men they want a nice smile and an easy going guy who doesn’t work out too much
In the last survey women wanted high earning businessmen but they’re now chasing doctors instead
The last time Match conducted the survey most women were on the hunt for a high-paid businessman, but now women are looking for a handsome doctor.
Women prefer their partners to have a firm grasp of French and enjoy going swimming.
They preferred early birds to party animals and – just like men – were keen to find dog lovers.
Both men and women were after a partner that preferred dogs to cats and preferred a nice smile to pretty eyes
Match’s dating experts say people’s preferences are clearly changing as the results are different to a similar study taken two years ago.
‘What the research shows is a changing preference in what people find attractive but of course preference can’t predict compatibility,’ dating expert Vicki Pavitt said.
‘The idea of a ‘perfect partner’ doesn’t exist so be open-minded about the types of people that you could be attracted to.’