This article was co-authored by Tami Claytor. Tami Claytor is an Etiquette Coach, Image Consultant, and the Owner of Always Appropriate Image and Etiquette Consulting in New York, New York. With over 20 years of experience, Tami specializes in teaching etiquette classes to individuals, students, companies, and community organizations. Tami has spent decades studying cultures through her extensive travels across five continents and has created cultural diversity workshops to promote social justice and cross-cultural awareness. She holds a BA in Economics with a concentration in International Relations from Clark University. Tami studied at the Ophelia DeVore School of Charm and the Fashion Institute of Technology, where she earned her Image Consultant Certification.
This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources.
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When you find yourself on a phone call that you want to get off of, there are a variety of excuses you can use to do so. Although lying is never good, sometimes it’s okay to fib a little to get out of a phone call when it isn’t the right moment to talk. The easiest ways to do so are to use situational or phone-related excuses to end the conversation or postpone it for later. Remember to always keep your word and call people back if you say you’re going to.
Steps
Community Q&A
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QuestionHow do I leave a call without being mean? Because whenever I say I've got to go, they ask why and I go blank.Community AnswerJust tell them you have to clean your room, get in the shower, eat dinner, run to the store, etc. If all else fails, just tell them you don't really like talking on the phone.
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QuestionWhat can I tell someone who I have been chatting with, but I don't want to call me?Community AnswerTell them your phone is about to die, or that you have something to do.
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QuestionHow do I get off the phone with a clingy girlfriend?Community AnswerYou should (calmly and gently) talk to her about her clingy behavior. Let her know that you need a little space and tell her specifically what she's doing or saying that you find clingy. Tell her that you love her, but you just can't be on the phone with her constantly.
Video
Tips
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Keep in mind that unknown numbers are usually never anyone you want to talk to. If it’s important, they can leave a voicemail.Thanks
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If a telemarketer calls, you don’t need to make any excuses to get off the phone. Feel free to just hang up.Thanks
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If you know you don’t want to talk right now, then don’t answer the phone in the first place.Thanks
Warnings
- You could lose friends or create family tension if you tell white lies or make up tales.Thanks
References
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JSXppc7HV6k&feature=youtu.be&t=20
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JSXppc7HV6k&feature=youtu.be&t=35
- ↑ https://www.chiclypoised.com/excuses-people-use-to-get-off-the-phone-number-8-will-crack-you-up/
- ↑ https://www.chiclypoised.com/excuses-people-use-to-get-off-the-phone-number-8-will-crack-you-up/
- ↑ https://iheartintelligence.com/talkative-person/
- ↑ https://www.mannersmentor.com/how-to-politely-excuse-yourself-from-a-talkative-person/
- ↑ https://blog.hubspot.com/marketing/excuse-yourself-conversation-gracefully
- ↑ https://www.chiclypoised.com/excuses-people-use-to-get-off-the-phone-number-8-will-crack-you-up/
- ↑ https://www.chiclypoised.com/excuses-people-use-to-get-off-the-phone-number-8-will-crack-you-up/
About This Article
If you need to make up an excuse to get off the phone, say you have an incoming call on the other line. For example, you could say "I have another call. I have to go." You could also crinkle up a piece of paper near the phone to pretend you have bad reception. Just say something like "Sorry, I can't hear you. I will have to call you later." You could also say something simple, like "Something just came up. I need to go" without giving any specific details. To learn how to keep phone conversations short, scroll down!
Reader Success Stories
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"This article has helped me much because I don't really like to talk on the phone, I'd rather text them. Also I hate long silences when you have nothing else to talk about on the phone, so I have found this article to be very helpful."..." more