How to Cancel a Date at the Last Minute

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By eHow Contributing Writer

Article Rating: (10 Ratings)

You've changed your mind about your date - or life has simply gotten in the way. How do you cancel at the last minute?

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

Greeting Cards
Telephones
Flowers
Gourmet Cookies

If You Want to Be Asked Out Again

Step 1

Call as soon as possible. It's not likely you'll be forgiven easily if you let your date show up and wait for you, just to have you cancel.
Step 2

Blame it on outside circumstances: an unexpected meeting, deadline or assignment. You really, really want to go, but ...
Step 3

Tell the truth: You're tired, you don't feel well, you've had a rotten day. You'd rather stay in and rest than go out and not be very much fun.
Step 4

Create an excuse: You forgot that you were meeting your friends for dinner, you need to go to your grandmother's to move furniture, you lost your keys and can't leave until you find them.
Step 5

Leave the conversation open for another invitation.
Step 6

Suggest an alternative date.
Step 7

Offer to make it up to him or her - and then do it. Send a card or a bouquet of flowers.
Step 8

If your date calls later to check up on you, be where you said you'd be and thank him or her for being thoughtful.

If You Don't Want to Be Asked Out Again

Step 1

Call as soon as you realize you want to cancel. Keep in mind how much easier canceling is on the phone than in person.
Step 2

Blame it on outside circumstances. Believable: You are really busy at work and don't have time for dating. Unbelievable: Your power has been shut off so you haven't had a shower in four days.
Step 3

Tell the truth: You're not interested; you've had a revelation that he or she is not The One.
Step 4

Tell a white lie: You're seeing someone else, or you've decided that you don't want to date anyone just now.
Step 5

Stay on the phone only long enough to deliver your message; be careful not to give the impression that you are interested.

Comments

Anonymous said

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on 8/8/2006 The sleazy way to do things would be to pretend you didn't even make the date. When she calls, don't answer. (beware the "restricted caller" move she might pull). Remember, if it's someone else and it's important, they'll leave a message or call back.
The classy way would be to just tell her the truth. If it's really a meeting or another circumstance that's more important, she'll understand. If she doesn't, dump her and do it fast. You're only seeing the tip of her selfish iceberg.

on 8/8/2006 Call me chicken, but try to leave it on his voice mail, if you can. Then you don't have to deal with the small talk. Then, later, call and try to get him on the horn. It's just easier that way.

on 3/12/2006 Call me chicken, but try to leave it on his voice mail, if you can. Then you don't have to deal with the small talk. Later, call and try to get him on the phone. It's just easier that way.

on 11/22/2005 If you need to cancel but you don't plan on going on another date, use comedy. Say "I've got this strange and very contagious foot fungus," or try writing a bad poem to them. For example, you could say "I didn't want to cancel my date with you, but I seem to have come down with the flu. My fingers are purple, I'm noticeably green. So I can't go out with you." Bad poems that don't rhyme send a message that you couldn't care less. If that person still wants to go out with you, just say no and hit them with a pillow.

on 11/22/2005 If a guy is really into you, he'll respect your decision to stay as friends, but if he's not really into you and he still wants you after you said, "No, let's be friends," he's probably most likely just wanting sex from you.