• Getting Specific: Discussing abortion can be contentious, but three-quarters of singles will discuss this topic on a first date. Over 80% of singles are happy to talk about religion, gun control, immigration and marriage equality, too.
• Pop Culture & Sports: Don’t know a “safety” from a “hat trick?” No worries. Less than 20% of men and 23% of women care if a date knows about sports. And no need to keep up with the Kardashians, since only 10% of women and 11% of men care if a date follows celebrity and pop culture.

You may not get an honest answer anyway, as a quarter of singles admit to lying about sex with past lovers.

Menus and Makeouts: Almost 75% of singles prefer American cuisine on a first dinner date. But if you want to take a risk, go for sushi; it will boost your chances of a second date by 170%. As for beverages, singles’ drink of choice is soda and/or iced tea (29%). However, if you want to lock in a second date, order a cocktail (and skip the wine or beer), as this will increase your second-date chances by 137%. Additionally, 50% of men and women think only kissing is appropriate on a ‘good’ first date, while 44% say that a kiss is inappropriate no matter what the circumstances. Only 15% of men and 7% of women expect a “make-out session” on a first date, and only 6% of men and 1% of women expect to have sex.

What’s Off the Table: Past relationships are dating landmines, as only 14% of singles will discuss an ex on a first date

• Republican Recipe: If you desire a second date with a Republican, your chances increase by 122% if you go to an expensive restaurant; eat sushi (115%) or Middle Eastern food (148%); talk about anything political (75%); order after-dinner drinks (111%); and/or “make out” (62%).
• Democratic Appetites: If you’re looking for a second date with a Democrat, order sushi to increase your chances by 126%; 35% if you order a cocktail; 81% if you order after-dinner drinks; 64% if you talk about marriage or anything political (80%)

Time of Day & How to Pay: Singles prefer to go on a date in the evening (60%), while only 22% prefer a date in the afternoon. And Saturday is the best day of the week for a date (39%). Additionally, 50% of men and 36% of women agree that a man should pay on the first date. Men also expect a first date to cost $ while women think $ is the most appropriate price. Both sexes agree that a second date should cost a little more, but men expect the cost to be around $77 while women think $64 sounds about average.

Defining the “ex:” Over 50% of singles believe you have to date more than three months to count someone as an ex, with 32% of women believing you have to date someone for over a year.

32% of women have “creeped” on an ex through social media compared to 20% of men. An equal number of men and women have dreamed about sex with an ex (33%) and a quarter of singles have actually followed through.

Taking the ex out of sex: Around 16% of singles have drunk-dialed an ex, with about half of those doing it two or fewer times

Dating your friend’s ex ?: Half of men and a quarter of women would date an ex’s friend , while about half of women and a third of men would be upset if a friend dated one of their exes. Additionally, half of men and 42% of women will stay friends with an ex.