14 Totally Acceptable Excuses You Can Give for Canceling a Date

No. 13 is foolproof.

21 March, 2018
14 Totally Acceptable Excuses You Can Give for Canceling a Date

Not that you need a fake excuse for canceling a date, but it can feel nicer or more polite to be able to give some sort of reason when you call two hours ahead of time to be like "sorry but also no." For the next time you need a trusty excuse, here are 14 freebies.

1. "Hey so there's like a 60 percent chance I'll feel like exercising tomorrow morning and I really can't risk messing that up that by going out with you tonight. I'm sorry!" ​Sometimes, you just know.

2. "Sorry, but I'm gonna have to cancel — the cold pizza in my fridge is on its last leg and I really can't let it go to waste." ​The only thing better than hot pizza is cold pizza and it's a sin to throw it away.

3. "So sorry, really, but my the only pair of jeans I really ever wear are still air-drying in my bathroom, and it looks like I just don't have any pants at all to wear tonight, so I'll have to cancel." ​You just can't wear those second-rate jeans that awkwardly squeeze your thighs on a big night out, no ma'am.

4. "I know we had plans but it looks like my DVR is full, and if I don't stay home and watch every episode so far of ​The Bachelorette​, tonight's episode won't record. Sorry!" ​Really, this isn't even your fault! It's modern technology's fault for not being able to keep up with all the shows you need to watch.

5. "This is totally my mistake for not noticing before, but Mercury is retrograde right now and I can't leave my home. Sorry!"​ ​Literally never make big life decisions (like leaving the house) or go on a first date when Mercury is retrograde. It's basically just asking for trouble.

6. "It's probably nothing, but I'm pretty sure I heard my cat sneeze earlier and if she gets sick while I'm out with you I really wouldn't be able to forgive myself (or you), so I have to cancel."​ It's just not worth the risk!

7. "I'm sorry to cancel like this, but I just realized ​13 Going On 30​ is on TV tonight, and I realize it's on Netflix without commercials, but it just feels more special when you can watch it on TV." ​There's something incredibly special about sitting down on your couch and watching your favorite movie in abysmal television quality, with weird commercials for protein powder and Viagra strewn throughout the most dramatic scenes. Way better than boring old streaming.

8. "Hi! So I finally did realize how I knew you from before and I remembered that it's because you were terrible to me at a party four years ago. It looks like I'll have to cancel. Thanks, though!" ​Sometimes it just hits you.

9. "Hey, I'm sorry, but my parents just surprised me with a phone call and it seems I'll have to block the rest of this evening out for figuring out my life goals." ​You just can't plan things like this.

10. "Hi! Sorry to do this so last-minute, but one of my tweets is going viral and I really don't have the energy to focus on anything else right now, so we should probably just cancel." ​It would just be rude to spend the entire date watching the RTs, faves, and replies rolling in. You're better off staying home with your creation.

11. "I guess when you asked me out I just assumed you meant we should get together on August 5, ​2017​, and I actually have plans tonight. I'm sorry to cancel!" ​Yeah, this isn't your fault. People really should specific the exact date (including the year) when they ask you if you have plans.

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12. "This is so weird but I'm being asked to go on a super last-minute work trip to Nova Scotia and won't be back until you're very busy, so I'm gonna have to bail. I'm so sorry!" ​No one can argue with a mandatory work obligation.

13. "Shitty timing, I know, but my ex just texted me something that's impossible to interpret and now I'm going to need to stay home all night reevaluating that breakup. We'll just have to do this another time I guess. Sorry!" ​If they don't understand why this merits canceling plans, then you probably shouldn't be hanging out with them anyway.

14. "I'm so sorry, I hate to do this, but I just remembered that I don't actually want to hang out with you." ​When in doubt, just tell the truth: There are so few people worth actually leaving home and putting on a bra for.

Credit: Cosmopolitan
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