Finishing Conversations Politely: English phrases + dialogue - Dan's Real English (2024)

Do you ever need to end a conversation quickly? Maybe you’re busy and you don’t have time to chat.

It’s often difficult to stop chatting with friends and colleagues without sounding rude.

Here are some common English phrases to help you finish conversations politely!

Ending a conversation: example dialogue

Here is a natural dialogue showing how native speakers end conversations. In this short chat, Kim uses typical English phrases to finish her conversation with Polly in a polite way.

The situation: Polly is chatting with Kim. Kim tells Polly that she needs to leave because she his busy. Polly understands and says she also has things to do. They both agree it was nice to see each other. Kim suggests meeting up again soon. Polly says she will call, and they say goodbye.

Listen!

1. Listento the recording. Try to understand what each phrase means, and focus on how the voices go up and down.
2. Learn the useful phrases from the dialogue (and also the alternative phrases)
3. Listen againto the audio and read thefull transcriptat the same time.

Useful phrases for ending conversations

These phrases are all very common ways to finish conversations – but you need to use them at the right time – and say them in the right way!

1. Anyway!

Probably the most useful phrase for ending conversations is “Anyway!” When people say this word (with falling intonation) in a conversation, it often means they need to leave!

In the dialogue, both Kim and Polly say “Anyway!” several times to signal that they want to end the chat:

• Anyway, look..
• Yeah, well, anyway..
• Anyway, I’ll let you get on!

If you prefer, you can also use these alternative words and phrases to suggest you want to end the chat:

• Right!
• So!
• So, yeah!
• And there you go! = I’ve said everything I want to say. I want to stop talking now!

Body language tip: In the UK and some other English speaking countries, people often also put their hands together when using these phrases to signal the end of the conversation.

2. I’ve gotta get going now!

Here are a few phrases that mean “I need to go”.

In the example dialogue, you can hear Kim say:

“Anyway, look, I’ve gotta get going now..” = I need to go now (I’ve gotta = I have got to = I have to / I need to)

Here a few other common polite phrases that also mean “I need to go”:

• Anyway, I’d best be on my way!
• I’d better be off, now.
• I’ve got to get going, now.
• I’ve gotta get a move on, now.
• I‘d better get going, now
• Right, gotta put my foot down, now I’m afraid!
• I’ve (really) got to dash!
• Sorry, gotta dash! (a bit rude! Say this only if you really need to leave urgently)

Softeners: To make these phrases even more polite, you can use phrases like “I’m (really) sorry but ..“ before them:

• I’m sorry, but I really need to make a move, now.
• I hate to do this, but I’ve (really) got to dash!
• I’m afraid I’ve got to get going now.
  • OR: I’ve got to get going now, I’m afraid.

3. Giving reasons or excuses

When ending a conversation, people usually say why they need to go. You may have an actual reason, e.g. “I have to pick up my son”, or you can use a general reason.

In the dialogue, Kim gives this reason for why she needs to go:

• I’ve got some things to get on with.. = There are some things which I need to do (get on with = start doing / working on)

Here are a few more general reasons or excuses that you could use instead:

• I’ve got some errands to run. = I have to do some jobs for someone (errands = jobs or favours you do for other people – “to run and errand for someone”)
• I’ve got a few jobs to do.
• I’ve got to see a man about a dog. (I have to go somewhere to do something, but I’m not going to tell you what it is!)

4. It’s been nice chatting!

Another common way to end conversations is to talk in the past. When you use past (or perfect) verb tenses and phrases, it suggests to the other person that the conversation is finished.

In the example dialogue, Kim says:

“Yeah, well, anyway, it’s been nice chatting.

Other conversation-enders that use past and perfect tenses include:

• Anyway, it’s been nice seeing you… = We have chatted. The chat is now over. Let’s go! (Present perfect simple tense)
• I’ve really enjoyed seeing you! = I’ve seen you. Can I go now? (Present perfect simple tense)
• Anyway, it was lovely to see you… = I’ve seen you / we’ve had a nice chat, so, now we can say goodbye! (Past simple tense)

5. Don’t let me keep you!

Another way to end conversations is to suggest you are wasting the other person’s time.

In the dialogue, Polly says:

Anyway, I’ll let you get on! = I know you’re busy. I will let you go and do the things you want to do.

You could also use these common phrases to say the same thing:

• Anyway, don’t let me keep you! = If you need to go, please go!
• Anyway, I won’t keep you any longer! = If you need to go, please go!
• Look, I don’t wanna (want to) waste any more of your precious time, so.. = I have already wasted your valuable time – I will stop now!

6. Say goodbye slowly!

Just ending a conversation with a quick “Bye!” could sound very rude if you haven’t “built up to it” first!

British people often say things like “Ok, see you soon” or “Catch you later” before they say “Bye”.

In the dialogue, Kim starts saying goodbye with a promise to meet up soon. After that, Kim and Polly say goodbye a few times in different ways:

1. Catch up again soon, yeah? = Let’s meet up again soon.
2. I’ll give you a call!
3. See you soon!
4. Bye!

Ending conversations before they start

Sometimes people are so busy, they don’t have time to start chatting in the first place. In this case, we often use phrases like, “Sorry, I can’t stop”. These let people know we are in a rush and that we can’t talk right now.

Here are some fixed phrases you can use the next time you’re in a rush and someone tries to grab you for a chat:

• Hey, I’d love to stop and chat, but .. ( + your excuse or reason)
• I’m sorry, but I’m running a bit late. = I am late for something (work / a train, etc)
• Can I catch up with you later? = I’ll call you later / I can’t talk now
• Sorry – can’t stop! (a bit rude!)

Ending a Conversation: dialogue transcript

Read the dialogue transcript while listening to the audio at the same time.

• Polly: …and then I had to pay extra for the booking fee!
• Kim: Oh no! That’s awful. Anyway, look, I’ve gotta get going now, ‘cos I’ve got some errands to run.
• Polly: No worries, I’ve got some things to get on with, as well. It was good to see you, though.
• Kim: Yeah, well, anyway it’s been nice chatting. Catch up again soon, yeah?
• Polly: Definitely. I’ll give you a call. Anyway, I’ll let you get on. See you soon!
• Kim: Bye!

Extra vocabulary from the dialogue

• Errands = small tasks or jobs that you need to do, often for other people
• Gotta (got to) = an informal way of saying “have to” or “need to”
• Catch up again soon, yeah? = let’s meet again soon