How Each Zodiac Sign Throws Shade At Their Ex
It's the best revenge.
getty If anyone deserves some shade, it’s your ex. You might be in a good place with them, but they still need to know how you're feeling. And what better way to do that than throw shade? There’s also the kind of ex that doesn’t deserve your respect, and they need to know that you’re not down with their foolishness.
There are many methods to throwing shade, but the classic ways are the nonverbal kind, like the side-eye. Then, there's the verbal kind, which is subtly insulting someone. The best kind of shade, however, is when the other person never sees it coming and is almost unsure that it happened. It’s passive-aggressive, but with style and flair!
And when it comes to astrology, each zodiac sign has their own way of throwing shade at their ex.
Sometimes you throw shade when it isn’t your intention, but that doesn’t mean you don’t enjoy it anyway. Then again, not everybody can throw shade well. You’ve got to have guts, style, and a way with random gestures. If you think about it too much, it’s not going to come out right and you may end up making yourself look silly.
Aries (March 21 - April 19)
When Aries throws shade at their ex, they will do something like responding "K" to a text. It's aggravating and annoying when someone does that. It's a way to show how disinterested you are in helping your ex get what they need, like an answer, and it shows that you don't care what they want.
Your ex can't say you ignored them or didn't respond; you just didn't give them the response they needed.
Taurus (April 20 - May 20)
When Taurus wants to throw shade at their ex, they go for the classic side-eye look. Sure, it's just a half roll of the eye but it speaks volumes. It says that Taurus is onto their ex's foolishness, but that it's not worth getting emotional over or spending any energy putting them in their place.
When Taurus does the side-eye, they know the exact right time to do it so that only a few people see it, but it gets the message across.
Gemini (May 21 - June 20)
Geminis throws shade at their ex by agreeing to go somewhere — maybe a social event their ex is throwing, or something having to do with their job — and then not showing up. Gemini doesn't even show them the consideration of canceling!
If questioned, Gemini will have an excuse or they may just say they changed their minds at the last minute. Whatever happens, by not showing up, this zodiac sign is throwing major shade.
Cancer (June 21 - July 22)
Cancers throw shade at their ex by posting group photos of them and never tagging them. The ex is right there in the picture, but it's as if they no longer exist in Cancer's world. Hey, it's not like Cancer is deleting them out of all their pictures, they just aren't including their name.
Extra shade points if the only pictures Cancer posts with their ex in them are pictures where the ex looks weird or just bad.
Leo (July 23 - August 22)
Leos throw shade at their ex by giving them a backhanded compliment such as, "That's great that you're not so hung up about your appearance anymore," or, "Did you get dressed in the dark this morning?" It's an insult disguised (though just barely) by a compliment.
The tone of what Leo says is also important because the brighter and more upbeat they sound, the harder it is to tell if they are sincere.
Virgo (August 23 - September 22)
Virgo throws shade at their ex by questioning everything their ex says and asking for backup to what they claim to be true. Virgo reveals that their ex doesn't know what they're talking about, and that it's easy to prove they're full of it just by digging a little deeper.
Virgo wants everybody to know how ignorant their ex is, and how they're lucky not to have to listen to their foolishness any longer.
Libra (September 23 - October 22)
Libra knows their ex still wants to be part of their life, and that's why they're liking everything this zodiac sign posts. Libras can be subtle, so they throw shade by pretending they aren't interested in their ex's social media, and don't reciprocate any Instagram likes, Twitter tweets, or Medium claps.
Libra's ex is in a dead zone as far as they're concerned, and Libra doesn't care how much their ex likes their social media activity.
Scorpio (October 23 - November 21)
Scorpio throws shade at their ex by practicing the art of the humblebrag. They want their ex to know how fabulous their life is, so they don't hold back.
Scorpios share all the amazing things they've got going on in their life — all the fantastic things that have happened since their ex stopped being a part of it. They say success is the best revenge, and how can your ex know about it if you don't share it?
Sagittarius (November 22 - December 21)
Sagittarius throws shade at an ex by saying something disrespectful or something that makes them look like a fool in the calmest, most subtle way possible. What Sagittarius says can come off as brutal or tactless, but because they're nonchalant about it and do it politely, it takes a minute for it to register with anyone.
When Sagittarius throws shade, it's a beautiful thing to behold.
Capricorn (December 22 - January 19)
Capricorn throws shade at their ex by leaning in, speaking in a serious tone, and then when they've got everybody's attention, talk about a rumor as if it's the truth.
They'll also speak to every single member of the group except their ex, letting them know that Capricorn doesn't want to waste their breath speaking to them if they don't have to. There's as much shade in Capricorn's actions as there are in what they're saying.
Aquarius (January 20 - February 18)
Aquarius likes to throw shade at their ex using GIFs and memes. GIFs and memes can often express much more cleverly than words or actions. Plus, if their ex calls them out, Aquarius can say they were only sharing something funny and that it wasn't personal.
Of course, it's very personal and a clear message that Aquarius is done playing nice with their ex. It's time to let them know how ridiculous they are.
Pisces (February 19 - March 20)
Pisces is a water sign, and liquids are important to them when throwing shade at an ex. Pisces will take a sip of something, speak their mind (no matter how hurtful it may be to their ex), and then look to the side.
This routine seems harmless enough, but it packs a punch. It's a kind of sophisticated shade. They also have no problem throwing shade with a simple hair flip, head nod, or even props like sunglasses.
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Christine Schoenwald is a writer, performer, and astrology lover. She has written over 500 articles on the zodiac signs and how the stars influence us. She's had articles in The Los Angeles Times, Salon, and Woman's Day. Visit her website or and her Instagram.