It happens to each of us at some point. Your eagerly anticipated first date has gone totally flat, and you’re sitting there wishing for a major catastrophe to get you out of your minor catastrophe. You don’t have to fake a heart attack or set a tablecloth on fire to get out of a bad date, though \u2014 there are easier ways to do so. Check out some common bad date scenarios, and some of the best ways to gracefully exit stage left without embarrassing your date \u2014 or yourself. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
First, you should know that you aren’t alone when it comes to bad dates.\u00a0 For Valentine’s Day 2023, U.K. roadside rescue provider LV= Britannia Rescue commissioned a dating survey that asked people about their bad dates<\/a>.\u00a0 They found that nearly all of them reported having at least one \u2014 and about 1 in 5 of them had cut a date short because it was so bad.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n And while some dates are hilariously bad<\/a>, others are a more mundane fail.\u00a0 You’re not likely to get stuck paying $100 for Taco Bell while your date’s father propositions you, but it doesn’t have to be that bad for you to want out.\u00a0 If you’re stuck in a tacky restaurant, desperately searching for the exit, you might consider one of these bad date exit strategies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n First and most important, your safety<\/a> is always<\/em> the most important consideration.\u00a0 If you find yourself in a dating situation where you feel unsafe, be sure to review these suggestions below.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Did you ever agree to a date and then immediately regret it?\u00a0 Or maybe you did a little research on Spokeo<\/a> and found out that your hot prospect isn’t all they said they were.\u00a0 Whatever the reason, sometimes the best time to get out of a bad date is before it even starts.\u00a0 In fact, in a survey carried out by OnePoll, 44% of those polled had canceled dates<\/a> because they weren’t feeling it.\u00a0 Here are some tips from OKCupid on how to get out of a bad date politely \u2014 before it even starts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sometimes, the kindest way to end a date that’s not working is to be honest about your feelings. It could be the fact that they remind you of your dad (and not in a good way) or you just getting a weird vibe. Maybe they chew with their mouth open and you can’t imagine sitting across the table from them for one more moment, let alone a lifetime. <\/p>\n\n\n\n You don’t have to be cruel to be kind. You can just state your feelings honestly without going into specifics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You’ve hung in there for long enough to know that this isn’t Mr. Right \u2014 not even Mr. Right Now. You’re not doomed to sitting through two more hours of boredom just to end your date gracefully. You can make an excuse to end the date early and leave. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Make your excuse believable. If you can’t think of anything, try one of these:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some situations call for more elaborate maneuverings. If you’re not comfortable saying you’re not interested, or think they might try to talk you out of leaving early, you can call in the cavalry in the form of a pre-arranged emergency extrication plan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n One of the easiest ways to get out of a bad date is to avoid long first dates in the first place. Just start with the assumption that any date could be a bad one, and set yourself up with an out from the very beginning. That way, if your date turns out to be torture, you’ve already got a set time limit. If, on the other hand, the two of you click, you can easily extend the date or make plans to meet up again. Check out these ideas for short dates that are easy to end.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You didn’t have the foresight to set up an emergency plan, and now you’re stuck sitting across from someone who just won’t stop talking about their ex. It’s time to get creative and invent an excuse to leave early \u2014 and what’s a better excuse than suddenly not feeling well?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Don’t trust your acting chops? Get klutzy. Knock over your glass of wine, or really go for the gold and overturn your entire plate of ravioli into your lap. Of course, you’re going to want to get home immediately to change out of your soiled clothes and repair the damage. <\/p>\n\n\n\n All joking aside \u2014 if something about your date raises warning bells<\/a> and makes you fear for your safety, just get out.\u00a0 If you’re at a pub or other public spot, enlist the help of the bartender or a server.\u00a0 They’ve often had experience in dealing with similar situations and can help you extricate yourself from the situation and see that you get home safely.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sometimes you just want to get out of going out, but don’t want to leave any hard feelings. These excuses are especially useful if you think you’d like to see the person another time \u2014 just not tonight. <\/p>\n\n\n\n One of the best ways to avoid bad dates is to spend time getting to know each other before agreeing to meet in person.\u00a0 Choosing the right dating app<\/a> can help with that.\u00a0 So can doing a little research on the person beforehand.\u00a0 Spokeo provides tools to help you learn more about people you meet online with as little as an email address<\/a>, a phone number<\/a> or even a social media handle<\/a>.\u00a0 A few searches can save you the embarrassment and trouble of having to come up with an excuse to get out of a bad date.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sources:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The Independent – Date or Dash: The Top Excuses Brits Use to Get Out of a Bad Date<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Women.com – How to Safely and Smoothly Leave a Bad Date<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\nEmergency Exit Strategies to End a Bad Date<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
1. Straight up cancel the date<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
What To Do<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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2. Just say you’re not feeling it<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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3. Make an excuse to leave<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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4. Use your emergency backup plan<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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5. Plan ahead for a short date<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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6. Get a sudden headache<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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7. Spill something on yourself<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
8<\/strong>. Enlist help<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
10 Excuses To Cancel a Date<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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How To Avoid Bad Dates<\/h2>\n\n\n\n