How to End a Bad Date
If your date turns out to be everything you never wanted and more, follow these tips to end your outing effectively and tactfully.
Up next in Dating Survival Guide (90 videos)
Improve your love life with the dating tips in these videos.
You Will Need
- A first-date policy
- Grace
- Tact
- Honesty
Steps
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Step 1
Have a policy
Have a dating policy. Meeting for a weekday lunch will provide a limited time frame and a safe, public location.
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Step 2
Be graceful
Be graceful and keep up your end of the conversation, even if sparks aren’t flying.
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You might actually make a friend of your bad date if you let go of any romantic expectations.
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Step 3
Remain tactful
Remain tactful. Express disappointment without negativity. Say, 'I’m having a good time but I was hoping we’d have more chemistry.' If your date seems nervous and awkward, tell them you’re feeling the same way and suggest ending the date.
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Step 4
Be honest
Be honest at the end of a bad date and say why you don’t want to go out again. For instance, 'You’re nice but we don’t have a lot in common.' Or, 'You have interesting things to say but the conversation was more one-sided than I like.'
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Take advantage of a lull in the conversation to end the date. Say that it seems you don’t have much to say to one another, thank them, and leave.
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Step 5
Get up and leave
Get up and leave if a date is touchy-feely, rude, abusive, or drunk.
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One in five high-school-age girls has been physically or sexually abused by a date.
