It’s one of those things that you never truly think about until it’s happening: how exactly do you leave a bad date early?

You might be tempted to shout “oh no!” as you glance at your phone, before announcing “my cat is sick. And my house is on fire. And now my cat is on fire!” But that’s not going to cut it, is it?*

When it comes down to it, you need to have your ducks in a row before you even arrive for the date.

Without being too cynical, you have to assume that not every date is going to be a love connection, so a contingency plan for when there’s no spark is essential.

We know you don’t want to be rude or hurtful, so if you find the interaction is severely lacking in chemistry, try these techniques to make your early exit that little bit smoother.

1. Get Your Excuses In Early

Laying the groundwork at the outset of a date is the best way of facilitating an exit without hurting someone’s feelings. By simply stating “I can’t stay past 9pm tonight as I have a big meeting in the morning” you can say your goodbyes at a predetermined time (or earlier) having already established a time frame for the date.

And if it is going well? Then you’ve got the opportunity to make your date feel a little bit special by staying out past your “curfew”.

2. Blame Work

Do you have a Demanding job with even more demanding deadlines? Then you’re in luck, as you can use this very common occurrence to make a beeline for the door without upsetting your date.

The next time you find yourself nursing a pint with someone who just isn’t doing it for you, you can let them know (in an exasperated tone) that your boss needs something very important, as soon as possible.

And like that…  you’re gone.

3. Start Feeling Unwell

Just like the previous excuses, this one will require a bit of preparation early doors. You can’t just decide you’re not enjoying the date and then loudly proclaim that you’re going to vomit before rushing out the bar (well, you could, but we’re trying to spare people’s feelings here guys).

The moment you notice the evening has taken a bit of a sharp turn into Dullsville (population: your date) you can mention you have a headache or an upset stomach; perhaps you ate something dodgy at lunch or found some leftover sushi in the fridge at work and felt like living dangerously.

Either way, take a few trips to the bathroom to splash some water on your face before apologising and heading for home, never to be heard from again.

4. Just Be Honest

This one isn’t easy to do, but sometimes it’s necessary. Of course, when we say you should ‘be honest’ don’t take that as a cue to share everything you think is wrong with your date. Rather, a straightforward “I’m sorry. I have to go. It was nice meeting you.” ought to suffice.

If you can’t trust your acting chops, or just feel a bit wrong about lying, then being polite, honest, and gentlemanly is the most effective way to end a bad date.

So guys, what do you recommend when cutting a date short? Let us know on Facebook or Twitter!

*Of course, if your cat is actually sick and on fire, you really should rush home. No-one will judge you for that.

The post 4 Ways to Bail on a Bad Date Like an Absolute Gentleman appeared first on Urbansocial Dating Blog.