# (Un)ususal end-of-conversation techniques? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [April 15, 2004, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/un-ususal-end-of-conversation-techniques/240239 "2004-04-15T22:20:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![SandWriter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8491ac/32.png) [@SandWriter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SandWriter)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2004, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/un-ususal-end-of-conversation-techniques/240239/1 "2004-04-15T22:20:54Z")
Hey All, I work for a small friendly company of around 50-55 employees, but its full of whacky people. The strangest thing I’ve noticed, that bugs me, is the end-of-conversation techiniques. I like to end a conversation with a salutation of some sort, like “okay, I’ll talk to you later,” “bye,” or “later.” or some other significant this-is-the-end-of-the-conversation statement. However, at this place, people end a conversation with, “what are you going to do?” or “So…anyway.” or even more annoying, the silent walk away. Does anyone else notice this? What are other non-salutation ends of conversations have you noticed? I’m I being too picky? Thanks in advance for your comments, Later p.s. special thanks to the first doper to post “(reads post, turns and walks away).” ---
**Author:** ![Giraffe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giraffe/32/129_2.png) [@Giraffe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giraffe)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2004, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/un-ususal-end-of-conversation-techniques/240239/2 "2004-04-15T22:30:29Z")
Personally, I prefer to end my conversations with an extended pause and then a long, heavy sigh before I just wander off. Either that, or I shout “This conversation is over!” and storm off. ---
**Author:** ![GingerOfTheNorth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/cdc98d/32.png) [@GingerOfTheNorth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GingerOfTheNorth)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2004, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/un-ususal-end-of-conversation-techniques/240239/3 "2004-04-15T22:39:59Z")
I have been known to say “There’s something wrong with my duck!” and leave. ---
**Author:** ![ZebraShaSha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/eada6e/32.png) [@ZebraShaSha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZebraShaSha)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2004, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/un-ususal-end-of-conversation-techniques/240239/4 "2004-04-15T22:42:50Z")
I usually like to make sure that they know the end (of the conversation) is near by shouting “RUN LIKE HELL CHICKEN LITTLE, THE SKY IS FALLING!” all the while running like hell. It does the job. ---
**Author:** ![ChiefScott](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/58f4c7/32.png) [@ChiefScott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChiefScott)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2004, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/un-ususal-end-of-conversation-techniques/240239/5 "2004-04-15T22:43:35Z")
“Well folks, let’s get to it.” I had a boss who’d end any conversation this way, wheher he was giving me instructions or asking me how my weekend was. He was truly a putz. ---
**Author:** ![swampbear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/swampbear/32/467_2.png) [@swampbear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/swampbear)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2004, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/un-ususal-end-of-conversation-techniques/240239/6 "2004-04-15T22:57:13Z")
“So, is this all you got to do today is talk? Cause I have tons of stuff that needs doing I can assign you.” Ok, so I don’t actually say this but I do think it a lot at work. Most of the time it’s stuff like “Sounds good to me” or “Yeah that’ll work” or “Let me know how it comes out.” Sorta typical boss type stuff. ---
**Author:** ![Giraffe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giraffe/32/129_2.png) [@Giraffe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giraffe)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2004, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/un-ususal-end-of-conversation-techniques/240239/7 "2004-04-15T23:09:17Z")
Perhaps the best way to end a conversation is with a silent, but extremely deadly, fart. Be sure to make eye contact with them for a few seconds after the smell hits, and then walk away. Note: this method works best when you’re having a conversation in someone else’s office. ---
**Author:** ![SandWriter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8491ac/32.png) [@SandWriter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SandWriter)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2004, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/un-ususal-end-of-conversation-techniques/240239/8 "2004-04-15T23:17:37Z")
That’s crop-dusting. There’s one guy here that does that all the time! When he does that, we head down for cokes. I just remembered another non-salutation that CheifScott reminded me of. Alriiiiigty-then. (from Ace Ventura Pet Detective) ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2004, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/un-ususal-end-of-conversation-techniques/240239/9 "2004-04-15T23:26:16Z")
You know, you can mess with your co-workers all you want on this issue. People who work together tend to pick up each other’s speech patterns and idiosyncrasies; start saying weird stuff to end conversations, and soon everyone will be doing it! Okay, maybe you could turn it down a notch and just end conversations with a definitive ending but fairly normal phrase. Not as much fun though, if you ask me. ---
**Author:** ![Eureka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/74df32/32.png) [@Eureka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eureka)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2004, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/un-ususal-end-of-conversation-techniques/240239/10 "2004-04-16T00:38:32Z")
A couple of my collage buddies used to say “Copper Pants” as their preffered way of ending conversations. (Sometimes it started them, as people tried to figure out why they said that). The explanation is simple: See you later–\>CU Later–\>Copper Later–\> Copper leder–\> Copper Pants Or sometimes just “copper” ---
**Author:** ![the.hyacinth.girl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecb155/32.png) [@the.hyacinth.girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/the.hyacinth.girl)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2004, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/un-ususal-end-of-conversation-techniques/240239/11 "2004-04-16T04:10:01Z")
My grandfather (in his 90s) ends every single phone conversation with “over and out.” ---
**Author:** ![zoogirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b9bd4f/32.png) [@zoogirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoogirl)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2004, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/un-ususal-end-of-conversation-techniques/240239/12 "2004-04-16T04:16:44Z")
I often toss out “Off like a herd of turtles!” on my way out the door. I’m kinda known for it. ---
**Author:** ![LifeOnWry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/96bed5/32.png) [@LifeOnWry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LifeOnWry)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2004, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/un-ususal-end-of-conversation-techniques/240239/13 "2004-04-16T04:28:49Z")
I’d like to say that I drop Eddie Izzard-isms at the end of conversations (“Sorry, I have to go, my grandmother’s on fire” or “Gotta run, left my cat in the fridge…” )but I don’t do that. Mostly I say, “Um. OK, well then. Um. I have to go. To do a thing.” ---
**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2004, 6:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/un-ususal-end-of-conversation-techniques/240239/14 "2004-04-16T06:03:19Z")
(reads post, turns and walks away) Well, it \*WAS \* your suggestion! ---
**Author:** ![Jorel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f19dbf/32.png) [@Jorel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jorel)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2004, 6:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/un-ususal-end-of-conversation-techniques/240239/15 "2004-04-16T06:32:44Z")
we always say, “I gotta go, I’m in a big bike race.” \* \*(stolen from Gavin…Kids in the Hall) ---
**Author:** ![Sami41](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c57346/32.png) [@Sami41](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sami41)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2004, 11:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/un-ususal-end-of-conversation-techniques/240239/16 "2004-04-16T11:19:25Z")
I end conversations with these lines quite frequently (generally with customers, but sometimes with co-workers). “I have to go…do the… … … something” (walking away) “You’re not allowed to talk to me any more” (This is not ever as effective as you’d think it’d be). “This I why I tend to walk away from you” “Dork” or “You’re a Dork” or “You’re the biggest dork ever.” “Stop” If I’m in a more polite mood I generally just say “I’ll be back.” That’s whether I’m actually coming back or not. ---
**Author:** ![Salem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8c91f0/32.png) [@Salem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Salem)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2004, 11:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/un-ususal-end-of-conversation-techniques/240239/17 "2004-04-16T11:39:22Z")
> [@zoogirl](#): > > I often toss out “Off like a herd of turtles!” on my way out the door. > > I’m kinda known for it. Or the alternative, " I’m off like a turd of hurtles…" ---
**Author:** ![notquitekarpov](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/71c47a/32.png) [@notquitekarpov](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/notquitekarpov)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2004, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/un-ususal-end-of-conversation-techniques/240239/18 "2004-04-16T13:28:42Z")
I heard (and used some) of: “(pause) Whatever…” (walks away) “Well, shit happens.” “Excuse me, I have a grindstone I have to apply my nose to.” (I know - poor grammar) On a slight hijack my later father shared with me the **perfect** excuse for being late for something you really have no excuse to be late for. He used it for a key client meeting - I used it for a funeral 🙂 . But he reckoned you could only use it once so one has to save it up for a crisis… “Sorry, I’m late - but I was overcome by a fit of weeping…” (embarassed silence, conversation resumes) This is amongst Englishmen remember when any show of emotion is a poor show. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![tiny\_ham](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a183cd/32.png) [@tiny\_ham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tiny_ham)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2004, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/un-ususal-end-of-conversation-techniques/240239/19 "2004-04-16T13:35:50Z")
Especially on the phone, I like to take a page from Calvin and Hobbes and scream AAAAGGGG I’VE BEEN SHOT!!! and then hang up ---
**Author:** ![SandWriter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8491ac/32.png) [@SandWriter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SandWriter)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2004, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/un-ususal-end-of-conversation-techniques/240239/20 "2004-04-16T14:34:51Z")
gotpasswords: yeah, it was my suggestion, but you just couldn’t resist now could you? \<-- obviously a rhetorical question. Copper Pants! Thats a good one! I’ll be right back… [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/un-ususal-end-of-conversation-techniques/240239.md?page=2)