Irish exit etiquette

[phkrause]

Irish exit etiquette

Illustration: Brendan Lynch/Axios. Stock: Getty Images

I love the Irish exit. Slipping out of an event — no goodbye, no lingering small talk — might actually be the proper way to leave, Axios' Herb Scribner writes. That is, if you can master it. 🖼️ The big picture: The centuries-old maneuver "spares the host from managing a revolving door of goodbyes, avoids disrupting the natural energy of the event and doesn't encourage others to leave simply because they see you heading for the door," etiquette coach Alison Cheperdak writes for The Wall Street Journal. 🇮🇪 The term "Irish exit" has some light roots in Ireland. Irish social gatherings — sometimes called "craic" — are usually more relaxed and comfortable, making grand goodbyes unnecessary. 🎉 Leaving a party without telling anyone is an art across cultures. America has adopted the Irish exit, sometimes referred to as the "Irish goodbye. 🇫🇷 Brits practice the "French leave," a term ironically dating back to the French phrase "filer a l'anglaise" — literally "to dash off like the English." 🇳🇱 In the Netherlands it's known as the "Dutch leave." 🍀 Whatever you call it, the Irish exit helps you avoid those drawn-out conversations about your friend's cat, or having to say "that's crazy" multiple times in a row to get out of a conversation. 🪫 It's also an easy way to escape an event when your social battery runs dry. There are other types of notable exits — like the "Midwestern goodbye," which features lots of lingering by the door. (Or, as I like to call it, Sunday night at the Scribners'.) Between the lines: "A well-executed Irish exit," according to Cheperdak, "isn't about disappearing — it's about knowing when a grand goodbye is unnecessary." 🥊 Reality check: This might make you seem like a jerk. Leaving an intimate dinner with yourself and some friends? Yeah, people might not be too happy. But there are situations where it's excusable, Cheperdak writes — like a networking event with 200 people snagging free drinks. Good chance you won't be missed. The bottom line: By leaving your main character energy at the exit and sparing your fellow revelers the pleasantries, you allow them to have their fun. 📱 Tip to go: If you're really worried about it, send a text to the host that you left — which might help bridge the gap.