Say, “Thanks for complimenting my dress,” or “That’s a really nice offer. ” You don’t have to thank them if they’re making you feel uncomfortable. You don’t want to send them the message that their behavior is okay.
You might say, “I don’t see you that way,” or “That’s not something I’m interested in. ”
Instead of saying, “I’m sorry, I’m not interested,” just say, “I’m not interested in dinner, but I really appreciate the offer. ”
You might say, “I hope we can still be friends, but I understand if you need your space. "
For example, you might give an excuse if a stranger asks you out in public, as it provides an easy way out. However, if you have mutual friends in common with the person, giving them an excuse might come back to bite you if they talk to your friends. It’s usually better to be direct. Typical excuses include, “I’m not ready to date anyone right now,” “I’m seeing someone,” “I’m just too busy right now,” or “I just got out of a relationship. ”
For example, you might not feel attracted to the person physically. It’s not kind to tell them all of the things you don’t like about them. Instead, you might practice saying, “I just don’t feel any chemistry,” or “That spark is missing. ” Similarly, you might feel like they talk too much. In this case, you could say, “I feel like we don’t communicate the same way. ”
Give them a 1-sentence compliment, like, “You planned such a fun first date,” or “I really enjoyed talking to you about movies because you’re so insightful. ”
For instance, you could say, “Thank you for these past few dates. I’ve enjoyed getting to know you. ”
Say, “While I had fun, I don’t see this relationship going anywhere. I feel like we have different goals, and we just don’t seem to be on the same path in life. ”
As an example, you might say, “I can understand why you feel like we should go on another date, but that’s not what’s right for me. ”
In some cases, you might feel like telling them why you’re breaking up with them will help them improve themself. However, keep in mind that it isn’t your place to tell someone who they should be. Additionally, everyone has different preferences, so what annoys you might be attractive to someone else.
