# Any alternatives to "nice to meet you?" **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [October 16, 2008, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-alternatives-to-nice-to-meet-you/468157 "2008-10-16T04:29:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Sanders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bc79bd/32.png) [@Sanders](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sanders)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2008, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-alternatives-to-nice-to-meet-you/468157/1 "2008-10-16T04:29:04Z")
I just watched the debate with some new acquaintances… Is there any tactful way to bid somebody goodbye, such as saying “it was nice meeting you”, but without lying? ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2008, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-alternatives-to-nice-to-meet-you/468157/2 "2008-10-16T04:49:40Z")
“It was nice meeting you” is not a lie, even if it wasn’t at all nice. It’s a social lubricant that everyone understands is not meant literally. It’s like saying “fine” when someone asks, “How are you?” You’re not lying by saying “fine” no matter how your health/emotional state is, you’re just following social convention. One alternative would be “thanks for coming,” “thanks for inviting me,” or “thanks for joining us,” depending on circumstances. You can of course thank someone for something whether or not you actually feel gratitude. ---
**Author:** ![Debon\_Err](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7ea924/32.png) [@Debon\_Err](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Debon_Err)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2008, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-alternatives-to-nice-to-meet-you/468157/3 "2008-10-16T04:54:21Z")
I like to say “It’s been a pleasure…” but then again, I just like to say ‘pleasure’. ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2008, 5:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-alternatives-to-nice-to-meet-you/468157/4 "2008-10-16T05:21:05Z")
I had a great time Splendid evening It’s been real Let’s do lunch Have a nice night Don’t die in a car crash etc. Feel free to mix and match. ---
**Author:** ![threemae](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/5f9b8f/32.png) [@threemae](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/threemae)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2008, 5:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-alternatives-to-nice-to-meet-you/468157/5 "2008-10-16T05:27:48Z")
> [@Inner\_Stickler](#): > > It’s been real… > Don’t die in a car crash > > Feel free to mix and match. “It’s been a real car crash?” I say mix and match carefully. ---
**Author:** ![madrabbitwoman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c37758/32.png) [@madrabbitwoman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madrabbitwoman)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2008, 7:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-alternatives-to-nice-to-meet-you/468157/6 "2008-10-16T07:18:26Z")
I’s been interesting meeting you. (Think of a certain chinese curse) ---
**Author:** ![vandal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/858c86/32.png) [@vandal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vandal)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2008, 7:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-alternatives-to-nice-to-meet-you/468157/7 "2008-10-16T07:34:07Z")
Replace “nice” with “pleasure.” Most people don’t say “pleasure” and it sounds less canned and robotic than “nice” does. e.g. “It’s been a pleasure” or “It was a pleasure meeting you,” as opposed to, “It was nice meeting you.” Feel free to use “pleasure” when meeting people too, not just leaving them. ---
**Author:** ![Jragon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19b73/32.png) [@Jragon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jragon)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2008, 7:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-alternatives-to-nice-to-meet-you/468157/8 "2008-10-16T07:51:16Z")
Them: “Well, I have to go.” You: “Have fun.” That’s what I say anyway… probably comes across as incredibly weird and incordial, but I like it. ---
**Author:** ![NinetyWt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/cc9497/32.png) [@NinetyWt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinetyWt)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2008, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-alternatives-to-nice-to-meet-you/468157/9 "2008-10-16T12:57:05Z")
I like this one: “see you 'round campus”. I haven’t been in college in 20 years so this one is also a bit of a joke. What else … hmm… how about “y’all take care”? ---
**Author:** ![corkboard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e9bcb4/32.png) [@corkboard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/corkboard)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2008, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-alternatives-to-nice-to-meet-you/468157/10 "2008-10-16T13:00:42Z")
“How _you_ doin’?” ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2008, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-alternatives-to-nice-to-meet-you/468157/11 "2008-10-16T13:39:49Z")
I use “see ya in the funny papers” with some regularity. ---
**Author:** ![Finally](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/67e7ee/32.png) [@Finally](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Finally)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2008, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-alternatives-to-nice-to-meet-you/468157/12 "2008-10-16T13:43:13Z")
Second vote for “take care”. Short and sweet. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2008, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-alternatives-to-nice-to-meet-you/468157/13 "2008-10-16T13:58:37Z")
> [@Jragon](#): > > Them: “Well, I have to go.” > You: “Have fun.” > > That’s what I say anyway… probably comes across as incredibly weird and incordial, but I like it. That is my usual goodbye to people, “Have fun.” I think I started it years ago when I read a Stephen King book which had an intro by the author which ended with the line, “Don’t take any shit from anybody.” I wish I had the nerve to use that but I make do with, “Have fun.” ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2008, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-alternatives-to-nice-to-meet-you/468157/14 "2008-10-16T22:18:53Z")
i also use have fun. safe trip could work as they leave. ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Bean](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_bean/32/1760_2.png) [@Green\_Bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Bean)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2008, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-alternatives-to-nice-to-meet-you/468157/15 "2008-10-17T02:28:04Z")
I want to hear the story that inspired the OP!! What happened at the debate party that was so awful that you could barely stand to way “nice to meet you?” ---
**Author:** ![Sanders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bc79bd/32.png) [@Sanders](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sanders)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2008, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-alternatives-to-nice-to-meet-you/468157/16 "2008-10-17T03:56:09Z")
> [@Green\_Bean](#): > > I want to hear the story that inspired the OP!! > > What happened at the debate party that was so awful that you could barely stand to way “nice to meet you?” Heh. Hardly anything happened, really. I guess I’m just ill-natured. 🙂 They’re Obama supporters, like myself, but the husband, who just rubbed me the wrong way to begin with, would _not_ shut up during the debate, and his analysis was remarkably unsophisticated. ---
**Author:** ![Napier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Napier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Napier)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2008, 10:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-alternatives-to-nice-to-meet-you/468157/17 "2008-10-17T10:51:38Z")
You could fawn over them shamelessly, kissing their hand and saying “Enchante” like Tim Curry did in Rocky Horror Picture Show. Excellent showmanship, and you hardly ever see it done. ---
**Author:** ![Imasquare](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Imasquare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Imasquare)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2008, 11:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-alternatives-to-nice-to-meet-you/468157/18 "2008-10-17T11:58:46Z")
Meetcha… ---
**Author:** ![JSexton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/96bed5/32.png) [@JSexton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JSexton)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2008, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-alternatives-to-nice-to-meet-you/468157/19 "2008-10-17T22:00:10Z")
“Hope you get laid!” It’s a good sentiment. Hell, it’s the exact opposite of “fuck you!”. ---
**Author:** ![Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e480ec/32.png) [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2008, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-alternatives-to-nice-to-meet-you/468157/20 "2008-10-17T22:36:23Z")
There’s always the male head nod. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-alternatives-to-nice-to-meet-you/468157.md?page=2)