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Original poster

Give me your best excuses to get off the phone from relatives that don't stop talking.

49 replies

JamFrogEgg · 14/03/2022 17:28

I have two relatives that I find hard to get off the phone from. Saying there's someone at the door or I have an appointment feels so fake. Please give me your best excuses so I can have them at the ready.

OP posts:
KittenKong · 14/03/2022 17:30

Text someone to call you urgently. Say someone is at the door and you need to speak to them.

PukkaP · 14/03/2022 17:30

You need the toilet

You need to go out to meet a friend

You've got something in the oven

PinkGinBigGrin · 14/03/2022 17:31

"Il have to go, I need a massive shit the loo"

Either that or start talking in a broken voice and then end the call. Then text and say the line was breaking up and you'll ring them back later.
Then don't.

Aquamarine1029 · 14/03/2022 17:31

I tell them "I'm hanging up now" and I do it.

devuskums · 14/03/2022 17:32

Ha ha I was once trying to get off the phone from an extremely chatty friend, I said omg I have to go, the chip pan has caught fire....she said no don't hang up, I'll wait!

Magdalena543 · 14/03/2022 17:34

I have a relative who I don't answer the phone to as she talks for about an hour and 15/20 minutes. I let her leave a voicemail and then phone her back when I'm walking the dog in the morning. At least then I'm walking and talking and not just sat at home on the phone for ages. I then have the get-out "Right, I'm back at the car now, so I'd best get going and let you get on with your day." Seems to work!

Junipercrumble · 14/03/2022 17:34

I have been known to just hang up mid sentence and claim my phone ran out of charge or be confused as to what happened and did their phone run out of charge? Grin

Smokeahontas · 14/03/2022 17:35

You have vomiting and diarrhoea. Simply saying you’re unwell isn’t enough. V&D is enough detail so they get it, won’t want to know anymore.

MangoBiscuit · 14/03/2022 17:35

"Oh fuck, the cat's just thrown up on the rug."

Helps to have a cat.

Sparklingbrook · 14/03/2022 17:37

Reach outside the front door and ring the doorbell.

barbrahunter · 14/03/2022 17:41

Do you think that your relatives know that they are keeping you for too long, OP? Frankly, I would be more direct with them: If they're insensitive enough to keep taking your time up then they may well need a straight, not necessarily rude, telling that they're taking up too much of your time.

CoffeeBeansGalore · 14/03/2022 17:43

Dog needs in/out/thrown up/chewing/raiding the bin.
Kids trashing kitchen/raiding fridge/flooding bathroom/need a bath/help with homework.

Say can only talk for half hour as need to do xyz at such time. Set timer & then ok, gotta go, bye bye.

EmergencyHydrangea · 14/03/2022 17:45

"I have to go now, bye" then hang up

DesertStorms · 14/03/2022 17:45

@Sparklingbrook

Reach outside the front door and ring the doorbell.
Love this one!
notprincehamlet · 14/03/2022 17:49

Hunker down with snacks and your beverage of choice and let them talk away

bonfireheart · 14/03/2022 17:49

Genuinely hang up and blame your/their signal.

ClariceQuiff · 14/03/2022 17:50

Avoid elaborate ruses and lies. Just say 'It's been lovely talking to you but I have to go now as I have things to be getting on with.'

Foghead · 14/03/2022 17:51

I start doing a job that needs doing like spraying and cleaning kitchen doors, handles and light switches.
Clean mirrors and windows and dust.
That way at least it’s time spent well.
Then say ‘I’ve got to go and get lunch/dinner/shopping sorted. Lovely catching up. Speak to you soon.’

BarrowInFurnessRailwayStation · 14/03/2022 17:52

Just put the phone down and go and do something else whilst they're talking. They probably won't even notice.

Put your favourite show on and watch that whilst they talk.

Don't answer the phone if you can see it's them.

LaraDeSalle · 14/03/2022 18:05

I have had this with numerous elderly relatives who are sadly on repeat after the first five minutes and they’re then telling me again what they told me at the start of the conversation.

I’m always honest and say when I phone, right I’ve got 10 minutes, which I personally think it’s a reasonable time to have a catch up and enquire after them and let them know any news from us.

So as it gets nearer to the 10 minutes I will then say, right well that was really really nice catch up with you and I’ll phone you on X day in the morning g/afternoon and look forward to speaking to you then.

LaraDeSalle · 14/03/2022 18:07

I meant to say that the 10 minutes is for relatives I speak to once or twice a week, if it’s for somebody that I would call maybe monthly or less then obviously I would allow a longer amount of time,but I do state the time at the beginning of the conversation.

I might say okay I’ve got 20 minutes/half an hour but I’m going out at ex time and that means the conversation has to end whether they like it or not

Xpologog · 14/03/2022 18:11

It’s been lovely talking to you. We must do this again…….Bye
Thanks for calling, it’s been so good to talk. You look after yourself now. Bye
Well, you know what it’s like this time of the day/evening. How is there always so much that needs doing ? Speak again soon. Bye.

TheSpottedZebra · 14/03/2022 18:16

@Sparklingbrook

Reach outside the front door and ring the doorbell.
If it is raining, or they'd hear the front door opening, press the smoke alarm instead! Or set the oven timer and say dinner is ready.
tearinghairout · 14/03/2022 18:21

Put the telly on mute and with subtitles and ring them during Pointless. Then when it ends, "Oh well, I've got to go. I'd better cook!"

RockAndRollerskate · 14/03/2022 18:25

I phone 15-20 minutes before dinner is ready and make sure that DH knows to shout when it’s ready. Or I walk the dog and end it when the walk ends