Whether you’re in Cairo, Rabat, or Beirut, you must’ve felt it: temperatures have started dropping below the usual. Our duvets suddenly feel heavier than they are, our beds infinitely cozier, and the outside world feels about as tempting as a meeting on a Monday morning. Leaving the house has never felt more difficult than now and if you’re anything like us (read: not in the mood to brave the cold), below, we gathered a list of five polite ways to say “no” to plans without sounding like a total flake.
“No, sorry. It’s too cold outside.”
Simple, direct, and criminally underrated. Rather than overcomplicate things with elaborate excuses, just say it how it is!
“Mum and dad said no…”
An all-time classic. If you’re above 25 though, or no longer living with your parents, whoever’s asking you out might find it hard to believe that you’re still being Rapunzel’d at home at your big age. Worth trying if you ask us…
“I’m hibernating.”
Because at the end of the day, we’re mammals too. And if bears get a few months of break each year, so should human beings. Bonus: you can soften the blow by inviting your friend to join your cozy Netflix-and-socks situation instead of meeting outside.
“I think I have COVID.”
We didn’t know how good we had it until those days were over, but those five words used to be the ultimate escape card out of any motive. No matter how late you decided to raincheck your friends’ pandemic-sponsored birthday brunch, the mere suggestion of having COVID was enough to excuse you from anything—no questions asked. Though the disease seems to have gone into retirement, with some good acting, we still think that it can deliver the desired effect. And if anyone asks for proof, a little creativity with Photoshop can go a long way (you didn’t hear it from us though x).
“Mercury’s in retrograde, leaving the house isn’t a good idea sorry!”
For the drama Kings and Queens who need their rejection to have a flair of poetic mysticism: just blame the stars, the cosmos, or some strange alignment of the planets. Honestly speaking, this one’s a personal favorite as not only does it let you get creative with your excuse, but since celestial shifts take a minute to change, by the time Mercury is actually out of retrograde, it’s practically spring and much warmer outside. Win-Win.
