Call it self-protection or playing the cards right, women have done some nasty things to men to maintain the upper hand and stay in the dating game.

Fox News has compiled a list of top 10 cruel things that women do to men and how they toy with their emotions or ego.

10. Women don't pick up the phone
Men feel good about themselves when they manage to attain a girls’ phone number. However, women don't give it to men that easy afterall. According to Fox News, they often give men a fake number or don't pick up their calls.

9. Use men for free drinks
Fox News also suggested that there are women who go out never planning to spend any of their own money on drinks at the bar or club. Instead, they deploy their feminine ruses to convince guys to shell out for their night's libations.

While some of them might begin to get to know him, Fox News states that the cruel and heartless ones will take that drink, flirt a little and move on.

8. Use men as placeholders
Some women keep men close by for company's sake. The American news network reported that if the women is a decent person, she will just get it over with and dump the guy, but if she's cruel, she'll hold on to him until somebody new comes along.

According to the same source, women like that don't like to be alone and without a relationship, so instead of putting men out of their misery and ending the relationship or fling, she will string him along until she finds a replacement.

7. Emotionally manipulate men
Men don't like to see women cry and some cruel women take advantage of the fact to get what they want. A few threatening tears could easily make men do anything for the woman to get it to stop.

6. Use physical violence
Fox News also reported that while men who hit women are often deemed nasty, there are also some cruel women who feel it is perfectly acceptable to hit their boyfriends, as he would never hit her back. This type of woman feels like she can inflict any kind physical pain on him without fear of repercussion.

5. Ridicule men in public
Cruel women criticize and humiliate their men in public places. They often poke fun at her man or even soundly discredit him in front of others.

4. Women don't disclose their relationship status
While it is not the worst thing a woman could do to a man, but it is annoying that she leads men to think that she is available so that she can enjoy the man's flirtation and flattery when she is already attached.

3. Women withhold sex
According to Fox News, this is a time-tested, and frequently used, cruel thing for women to do to men. For most men, sex is as important as breathing, so withholding it in order to get something she wants or simply to punish him for his wrongdoings is an awful thing to do, albeit effective.

2. Women put men to the test
Imagine this scenario. It's a boys night out, but your girlfriend calls and asks you to ditch them to be with her instead.

She does not have any particular reason for her request; she claims she just wants to see you. She knows very well that you have already made plans with the guys, but if you really loved her, you'd go over to her place instead.

Fox News reported that if her request comes with the "if you really loved me" trump card, then it is a test. If you choose anything other than immediately rushing to her side, you fail. This kind of testing in a relationship is indeed emotionally cruel and petty.

1. Women flirt to inspire jealousy
Maybe she's feeling under-appreciated, maybe you've just had a big fight or maybe she just enjoys the tortured look on your face.

For whatever reason, girls who flirt with other guys in front of their boyfriends are immature and manipulative, said Fox News.