“Dumb Like a Fox” (75) is Argov’s term for a relationship strategy in which a woman maintains influence while allowing a man to feel he is taking the lead. The concept involves avoiding direct confrontation, criticism, or nagging in favor of subtle communication and selective praise. Argov presents the “dumb fox” as someone who uses patience, restraint, and indirect negotiation to encourage effort and consideration from a partner. The term also reflects the idea of appearing less controlling or emotionally reactive while still maintaining personal standards and boundaries.

The “Nice Girl” is the archetype Argov establishes as the direct contrast to the “Bitch.” She is an over-accommodating, approval-seeking woman who prioritizes a man’s needs and approval over her own. Her defining behaviors include overcompensating in the early stages of a relationship by cooking lavish meals, dropping her own plans at a moment’s notice, and being constantly available. Argov associates the “Nice Girl” with emotional dependency, excessive reassurance-seeking, and difficulty maintaining personal boundaries within relationships. In the book, the term is also linked to the idea of “jumping through hoops” (101), in which a woman repeatedly changes her behavior or overextends herself to gain or maintain a man’s attention.

The “Candy Store Theory” is Argov’s model for pacing physical and romantic intimacy to increase a man’s investment and respect. The central metaphor advises women not to give away the entire “candy store” at once, but rather to reveal sexual interest and intimacy gradually, “one jujube at a time” (53). Argov presents the concept as a way of encouraging patience, effort, and emotional investment during dating. The theory is put into practice through the “Jujube Installment Plan” (64), which provides guidelines for creating clear sexual boundaries and avoiding mixed signals that could label her a tease. The ultimate purpose of this approach is to establish a pattern of respectful effort before sex, which is more likely to continue long after the relationship becomes physical.

“100 Percent Hold” (5) is Argov’s term for a relationship dynamic in which a man feels completely certain of a woman’s availability, devotion, and dependence on him. According to the book, this certainty reduces attraction because it removes the sense of challenge and unpredictability that sustains pursuit. A woman gives a man a “100 percent hold” (5) when she is constantly available, abandons her own plans for him, or reacts emotionally whenever he pulls away. Argov contrasts this with selective availability and independence, which prevent a man from feeling fully in control of the relationship and help maintain his interest.

The “Mama/Ho Complex” is Argov’s simplified version of the psychoanalytic “Madonna/Whore Syndrome.” She uses the term to describe the way some men divide women into two categories: the nurturing, dependable “mama” figure and the sexually desirable “ho.” In the book, Argov argues that women who become overly maternal, self-sacrificing, or accommodating risk losing romantic and sexual tension in the relationship, while those who are too sexually available risk being categorized as “good time only” and thus losing out on long-term commitment (55). To escape this double bind, Argov encourages women to maintain independence, flirtation, and mystery.

The “Jujube Installment Plan” (64) is Argov’s metaphor for revealing sexual intimacy gradually instead of all at once. Borrowing from the image of receiving candy in small portions, the concept encourages women to establish physical and emotional boundaries while dating. Argov presents the approach as a way of increasing a man’s investment and maintaining respect, since he must continue making an effort rather than receiving immediate gratification.