11 Believable Excuses to Use to Get Out of the House

Examples of foolproof excuses to use when you want to escape from your house

Co-authored by Ali Garbacz, B.A. Reviewed by Seth Hall

Last Updated: December 22, 2024 Fact Checked

Whether you live with super strict parents, just got grounded, or are looking for a bit of a break from your partner or roommate, we’ve all had times where we needed to bend the truth a bit so we could get some time away from the house. We’re here to give you a list of some solid excuses you can use to get out of the house for a few minutes, hours, or even days!

Things You Should Know

Blame your need to go out on having to go get something you lost or left someplace else.
Say that you have a very important team project that needs to be completed or are studying for a big test.
Disguise your going out as doing chores or other volunteer work.
Cite another pre-planned event, such as dinner or a party, as the reason you have to leave.

1

“I lost my phone when I went out.”

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Saying you lost something valuable like your phone or wallet will give you the perfect excuse to be out for an hour or two “looking for it.” You could also coordinate with a friend so that they “find it” and you have an excuse to see them when you go pick it up.^{[1]
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2

“I left my textbook at my friend’s house.”

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Come up with a way to make seeing your friend unavoidable. To pull this one off, you’ll likely have to have actual evidence that you left whatever object at that person’s house so that your parents won’t be suspicious.Cite error: Closing </ref> missing for <ref> tag

3

“I signed up to do volunteer work.”

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Get out of the house under the guise of being a good samaritan. No one can really say no when someone offers to do volunteer or charity work. This is an excuse that’ll give you more than a few hours of free time while also making you look like an angel in others’ eyes. Just be sure to have specifics planned out, such as where you’re volunteering and with who, so that you don’t raise suspicion.Cite error: Closing </ref> missing for <ref> tag

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- Going grocery shopping
- Staying at a relative’s house for a few days
- Going to the library
- Attending a club meeting

4

“I’m going to take out the trash.”

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Make it look like you’re doing chores. Your parents or partner most likely won’t object to you volunteering to help around the house. The longer the chore takes, the better. Taking out the trash won’t buy you much time, but it’ll get you time outside or give you enough time to make a quick call. Some other chores you could use as an excuse are:
- Taking the dog for a long walk
- Doing the laundry at the laundromat
- Driving to the donation center to get rid of clothes and other things
- Taking the recycling to the recycling center

5

“I thought I heard something outside.”

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This won’t get you hours outside of the house to go do something fun, but it’ll give you the excuse to leave quickly and take a few minutes to yourself.<ref>https://excuseindex.com/excuses-to-leave-the-house/<ref> Use this time to take a quick walk around the block or have a short chat with a friend in the area.

6

“We’ve been planning this dinner for weeks.”

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Use a pre-planned event to emphasize your need to go out. Everyone knows that it’s pretty rude to cancel plans last-minute, so whoever you’re trying to convince will hopefully be understanding and let you go out. This will be even more convincing if your “plans” involve another person who’s relying on your being there. Some other examples include:
- Picking up your friend from the airport
- Helping your friend or family member move
- Babysitting for a friend or relative
- Celebrating your grandma’s birthday