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What excuses do you use when you don’t want to do something?

“The dog ate my home work !”

Students showing up without home work can get really creative with their excuses. Later in adult life you sometimes need an excuse for getting out of a situation or commitment.

As a grown up, you need to clothe your excuse with a partial truth (or untruth). Here are some excuses presented first in their “polite” format and then paraphrased to show what the “excuse maker” really means :

Your excuse:

It isn’t feasible.

What this really means:

You think it should not be done. So you are not going to do it no matter what. No amount of persuasion, convincing or coaxing is going to make you change your mind and the sooner people realize this the better.

Your excuse:

I am working on it.

What this really means:

I haven’t even begun thinking about it. But if pressed I might consider getting started.

Your excuse:

Will it really make any difference in the long run?

What it really means:

I think it is stupid to even expect me to do it, as I don’t think it is worth doing at all.

Your excuse:

I don’t have the time—there is too much going on.

What it really means:

I just can’t be bothered.

Your excuse:

I don’t think I have the aptitude for this kind of thing.

What it really means:

Why do you think I would even consider doing something like this ? Are you crazy ?

written for:

Question of the Day – No. 396

34 thoughts on “What excuses do you use when you don’t want to do something?”

      6. I have read your posts several times but have refrained from comment because I did not want to sound critical
        Since you have asked me again, I am going to be candid.
        Please do not take offence.
        I think you have really good content ideas. However, there are errors of grammar and spelling that tend to put the reader off.
        Many of us on WordPress have not grown up with English as a first language so nobody expects a very high standard of proficiency. At the same time, our posts need to be easily understood.
        In your case I suggest that you take advantage of apps like Spell check and Grammarly.
        Although I have no personal experience of them , I know of someone who used them and is now a highly popular blogger.

        Like

      1. One of my higher ups is a “no holds barred and forget about tact” kind of guy. A few months back I actually looked him dead in the face and said, “I don’t want to do that because it’s stupid.” It was a great feeling. Lol

        Liked by 1 person

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