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Original poster

How to politely get these guests to leave?

94 replies

confusedttraveller · 10/04/2022 13:02

We have guests today for lunch. Whilst it will be nice to see them, from past experience with these guests, they will not want to leave, and will sit around looong after the conversation has dried up and we will need to drop hints that it's getting late. We have a toddler who will need tea by 6 and bathing at 7pm, and we have our grocery delivery on Sunday nights, organise stuff for the week ahead, plus I like to get into my pyjamas by 7.30 In the past I've used toddlers tea as an excuse but they just say "oh we don't mind" and then offer to help!

Any ideas for how we can get rid of them without telling them to F off?! SadConfused

OP posts:
Sleepyquest · 10/04/2022 13:43

I sort of joke and say 'I'm going to have to kick you out now as we have to start bedtime' and they always leave Grin

123walrus · 10/04/2022 13:54

Doesn’t help for today but I tend to give people a finish time in advance. Eg ‘Does noon suit you on Sunday? We’ll do a roast. We have things to do in the evening but free until 4pm if that suits you?’

123walrus · 10/04/2022 13:56

Other option is to kind of blame it on OH if you have one.

‘Come on, OH, can you sort out coffee’s for the overstayers as we’ll need to get on with xzy in half an hour and I don’t want them going home thirsty!’

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SeaToSki · 10/04/2022 14:01

Thank you so much for coming, its been lovely to see you. We must get another date in the diary. Let me get your coats and when you get home and are all organized for next week lets text about when works for us to come over to yours. Its so nice to have a couple of clear hours to get all the little boring jobs done before the working week starts isnts it..said while giving them their coats and helping them gather their stuff. DD come and say good bye, our guests are leaving now…..

No sorries, no excuses, no specifics about what you need to do, and dont sit down, just hover over them and open the door to the hall, hold their coat out to help them put it on (dont stand too close or they kight grab it)

The Chinese have a great custom, when the evening is over they serve a plate of sliced oranges, its the party’s over signal and then everyone leaves like a shot

SenecaFallsRedux · 10/04/2022 14:14

I don't do that. I say "ok, get out me house now" but I only have people over I can say that too and we'll laugh about it. Do you have that sort of relationship? If not, stick with the full social pantomime.

My brother looks at my SIL and says "Isn't it time for these people to go home?" Smile

NotTheOW · 10/04/2022 14:16

The Chinese have a great custom, when the evening is over they serve a plate of sliced oranges, its the party’s over signal and then everyone leaves like a shot that's great. Do they eat the orange?

DobbyTheHouseElk · 10/04/2022 14:21

I always find this really hard to know when to leave. I live in fear of outstaying my welcome.

Hollywolly1 · 10/04/2022 14:22

I'm trying to figure out why you invited them in the first place🤷‍♀️ and if they are inlaws all the more reason why you shouldn't have invited them🤣

balalake · 10/04/2022 14:23

Good luck OP, hope one of these suggestions works!!

GiantHaystacks2021 · 10/04/2022 14:24

I'm liking this Chinese orange thing.

coodawoodashooda · 10/04/2022 14:26

I had someone stay 2 hours after I stopped offering wine the other week. I couldn't say anything because I didn't trust myself to be polite.

mizzo · 10/04/2022 14:26

Uncomfortable them away. Start snogging your DH/cutting each other's toenails/do a sweaty workout video/ start watching naked attraction.

Summersolargirl · 10/04/2022 14:26

@NotTheOW

The Chinese have a great custom, when the evening is over they serve a plate of sliced oranges, its the party’s over signal and then everyone leaves like a shot that's great. Do they eat the orange?
I thought serving oranges was just tp end the meal, like coffee or dessert In the uk. I don’t think it’s a signal to leave?
TwoLeftSocksWithHoles · 10/04/2022 14:28

I usually start a small fire and evacuate the whole house.

Actually I've only done this once as I now live in temporary accommodation and the insurance company is being a bit awkward about paying out...Grin

N.B. I know some you probably hang on to my advice and brilliant tips like they've been handed down from your Grand Mother but DON'T DO THIS ONE.

I got chastised recently for failing to include the 'face with the beaming grin' by someone who had apparently taken a ludicrous idea of mine at face value. 🤭

MargaretThursday · 10/04/2022 14:31

"I've just taken a test and it's positive" ?

When they're home ring them and tell them that one of the dc played a trick on you by drawing a second line when you turned away.

Crunchymum · 10/04/2022 14:39

@MargaretThursday

"I've just taken a test and it's positive" ?

When they're home ring them and tell them that one of the dc played a trick on you by drawing a second line when you turned away.

I assume this is a joke? As it's utterly ridiculous

But....

Sounds like the guests would want to isolate with the OP Shock

ElenaSt · 10/04/2022 14:50

Start taking about politics/religion and before you know it an argument will break out and they will stomp off never to darken your door again.

MrsPelligrinoPetrichor · 10/04/2022 14:54

Don't host if you don't want visitors, I think it's really rude to kick people out!

bare · 10/04/2022 14:54

What time are you aiming for their departure? 3.30 ?

Pippbean · 10/04/2022 14:57

@IncompleteSenten
That is gold dust! I'm going to use that one day 🤣

NOTANUM · 10/04/2022 14:57

@NotTheOW

The Chinese have a great custom, when the evening is over they serve a plate of sliced oranges, its the party’s over signal and then everyone leaves like a shot that's great. Do they eat the orange?
I like this. It’s the grown up equivalent of a party bag.
BiscuitLover3678 · 10/04/2022 14:59

I’ll message them before or however it is you arrange it and say “is it alright if you leave at xxxx today as toddler gets very excited and needs some downtime, thanks for understanding”.

Ohhhhladz · 10/04/2022 15:04

When they arrive, tell them they're very welcome (obv as you invited them) but that you're going to have to end the visit at x time. Then they can be prepared to get home - the specific time may matter to them, esp if they are taking public transit or driving on a route which gets busy at certain times. It would have been better if you had told them this when you invited them, but since you didn't, do it at the first opportunity.

Briony123 · 10/04/2022 15:28

An after lunch walk to the playground then, standing outside your house, ask them if they need to use the loo or just grab their bag/car keys.

Easterisoffeggstooexpensive · 10/04/2022 15:47

If you currently have the heating on switch it off an hour before they need to get out!!

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