A new term to describe a former partner has taken the world by storm.

People have started to use the word ''stashing'' to describe an ex lover, and the term has been likened to the phrase ''my dirty little secret'', the Metro Online has reported.

And when the term is used in relation to a romance it means that someone is getting all the benefits of dating, but snub their other half when the pair are in public.

However, the reason behind the regular use of the word, which has been defined as hiding something way, is not known.