<P> Making out is usually considered an expression of affection or sexual attraction . An episode of making out is frequently referred to as a "make - out session" or simply "making out," depending on the speaker's vernacular . It covers a wide range of sexual behavior, and means different things to different age groups in different parts of the United States . It typically refers to kissing, including prolonged, passionate, open - mouth kissing (also known as French kissing), and intimate skin - to - skin contact . The term can also refer to other forms of foreplay such as heavy petting, which typically involves some genital stimulation, but usually not the direct act of penetrative sexual intercourse . </P> <P> The perceived significance of making out may be affected by the age and relative sexual experience of the participants . Teenagers sometimes play party games in which making out is the main activity as an act of exploration . Games in this category include seven minutes in heaven and spin the bottle . </P> <P> Teenagers may have had social gatherings in which making out was the predominant event . In the United States, these events were referred to as "make - out parties" and would sometimes be confined to a specific area, called the "make - out room". These make - out parties were generally not regarded as sex parties, though heavy petting may have been involved, depending on the group . </P>

Where does the phrase making love come from