We’ve all been there. Stuck at a party or a work function in a conversation that you desperately want to escape, but you can’t see a way to without being rude. Next time your find yourself in that conversation, remember that the easiest way out is to start with “I need.”

Whether it’s “I need to get a snack, I haven’t eaten all day;” or “I need to check in with my husband/boyfriend/roommate/whatever,” framing your exit in that way leaves little chance of your conversational companion realizing that you’ve been plotting a break for the past several minutes.

Get more rules for small talk and ask our etiquette expert your questions here.