What to say when you're out alone
Tap the moment you are in, or about to be in, and get three lines you can say out loud: one to open, one to keep it going and a polite way out. Short and simple or warm and chatty, ready on your phone when you need them.
How it works
Tap the moment and the lines appear straight away. Each moment has three: an opener to start, a line to keep it going if the other person responds, and a way out for when you are ready to step back. There is also what to say if it gets a bit awkward, one practical tip and a small solo mission to practise with.
Short and simple gives you the fewest words that still sound friendly. Warm and chatty adds a little more of you. Tap Copy next to a line to keep it in your notes, or share the whole set as an image.
How to use the lines
- Say it as written the first time. Do not polish it in your head. A plain line said out loud beats a perfect one you never say.
- Then make it yours. Swap in the words you would normally use. After a few goes, it stops feeling like a script.
- Keep it short. One sentence is enough to start. The other person does half the work.
- Know your way out before you start. Having the last line ready makes the first one easier to say.
- Rate your nerves. Before you go, note how nervous you feel from 1 to 10. Afterwards, note it again.
Why a ready line helps
The first sentence is usually the hardest part, because you are inventing it at the exact moment you feel most on the spot. A line you picked earlier takes that decision away. You only have to say it. The rest of the chat tends to follow from what the other person says back.
Questions about what to say
What if I freeze?
Say the opener exactly as written, even if it comes out flat. If the words go, smile and say "Sorry, I lost my thought there." That counts as a line too. You can also step away and try again later, or another day.
Is it rude to eat alone and read?
No. A book, a magazine or your phone at a table for one is ordinary. Look up when staff come over and say thank you, and the rest of the time is yours.
How do I start talking to a stranger without it being weird?
Talk about something you can both see: the food, the view, the band, the queue. A question about the place is easier to answer than a question about the person, and it is easy to drop if they are busy.
What if they don't want to talk?
Short answers or eyes back on their phone are a polite no. Smile, say "Enjoy it" and go back to what you were doing. Nothing went wrong: you said a line out loud, which was the point.
Do I have to use the lines word for word?
No. They are a starting point. Change anything that does not sound like you, keep the shape: open, keep it going, step back.