We’ve all been there – a date that’s not going as planned, leaving you feeling uncomfortable and eager for an exit strategy. Navigating a bad date with grace and courtesy can be challenging, but it’s a valuable skill in the world of dating. In this guide, we’ll discuss the art of hitting the eject button on a bad date, all while maintaining your dignity and respect for both yourself and your date. Whether it’s the awkward silence, lack of chemistry, or a mismatched connection, we’ll help you gracefully extricate yourself from an undesirable situation, leaving a positive impression behind.
Here’s how to bail on a terrible date without causing a scene
Whether in the form of a misjudged romantic interest that leads to a torturous predicament, or a blind date that makes you wish for actual blindness, mismatches are never entirely unavoidable if you’re willing to take a dip into the dating pool. But before you slip off to the bathroom never to return (leaving your date with the impression that you were taken hostage on the toilet), you must know that there are more tasteful ways to end a date early:
Phone a Friend
As tempted as you may be to make a run for it, instead of scouting out the restroom for an escape route, use your private time in there to cast out a cry for help. If you have a close friend or relative that can be available, text or call him or her to let that person know that you’re in the middle of a dating crisis in need of an interruption.
By showing up and joining the engagement, a friend or family member can definitely alleviate some of the tension and put a damper on some of the unwanted direct attention from your date. Just make sure you’re able to act genuinely surprised to see this acquaintance show up – if your date catches on, it’ll likely only make things even more awkward.
Feign Illness
Whipping up a sudden illness may sound a little cliché; maybe even a bit too difficult to pull off. But if you’re desperate, “not feeling well” could be your best opportunity to end the night early. Let’s face it: sometimes it’s just easier to pretend you feel too sick to go on than to tell a person that he or she is not what you expected.
And this early in the game, you aren’t morally obligated to be honest about such a thing.
Even though faking an illness will likely free you from a horrible situation, keep in mind:
- Your date may expect a second date when you feel better.
- Going overboard with dramatics will likely only raise suspicions, and offend your date more than the truth would have. (If acting isn’t your strong suit, just think about how gross your date makes you feel).
Plan a Potential Intervention In Advance
If you have any inkling that you could be walking into a potential dating disaster, make arrangements to receive a phone call from someone you know about 20 – 30 minutes into the evening. If the date is going okay, let the caller know that all is good and you can’t talk at the moment. But if your intuitions were right and you’re in a sticky situation, frame the phone call as an “emergency situation” that gives you an excusable exit opportunity. Potential “problems” may include a friend or family member in need, a work crisis, or the Zombie Apocalypse.
Tell The Truth
When you accept an invitation from someone to go out for an evening – or even ask someone on a date yourself – you may feel obliged to fulfill the promise and go the distance no matter how bad it gets. But there’s nothing wrong with simply letting a person know that you just don’t think the two of you are a match. Though any of the previously mentioned techniques will surely bring an end to any date, honesty is always the best policy – even if it may cause a bit (or a lot) of discomfort. Admitting that you’re just not feeling it is the swiftest way to get the message across. And if your date screwed up, letting him or her know what he or she did wrong is undoubtedly the most helpful thing you can do for that person… and the otherwise unlucky guy or gal that your date goes out with next.
