You have heard so many blind date horror stories that you don’t think you will ever agree to go one.  Sometimes, though, good judgment goes out the window and we end agreeing to a blind date in the hopes that we will get the one date that goes good.

When you have this minor lapse in judgment how do you recover?  How do you get out the date?  Is there anyway to bow out gracefully without hurting the other person’s feelings or upsetting the person who set you up?

Usually your best bet is to go on the date, but that doesn’t mean you have to see it through to the bloody end.  Here are some tips on how to get out of your blind date from hell:

• Have an escape plan. Know ahead of time how you will get out.  Make sure it is fast and fool proof.  One of the most commonly used escape plans is receiving an urgent call that you must get home right away.  This is usually set up with a friend beforehand who will call you and offer you the out.

• Fear hurting the other person’s feelings? Try a different approach to getting out of this date.  Instead of you leaving, make her want to leave.  Be someone that nobody would want to spend the evening with.  She will be begging to leave.

• If all else fails, just be honest. Tell her that you just didn’t feel up for the date in the first place, but that you felt bad canceling.  Suggest that you spare each other from blind date disaster and call it an early night.

If you really cannot get yourself to the date but don’t want to hurt your friend’s feelings, then call the friend and leave an apologetic message about not feeling well. The key here is to leave a message, then stay out of reach for the rest of the day. Just make sure you do that ahead of time so your blind date know the date is canceled. Your friend will have a valid excuse that will allow everyone to gracefully save face.