I’m sorry, I can’t make it: 5 best phrases to cancel dinner plans politely
If you’ve ever found yourself in a situation where you need to cancel your dinner plans with friends but don’t know how to do so without being rude, this blog post is for you! Learning how to say “sorry I can’t make it” professionally is super important as an English students communication skills.
Cancelling dinner plans is never an easy thing to do, but it can be even more difficult when you want to do so politely.
To help you out, this blog post will give you the five best phrases to use when cancelling dinner plans in English.
With these useful tips, you’ll be able to politely cancel dinner plans while still maintaining your relationships with your friends.
1) I’m sorry, I have to work late.
When you need to cancel dinner plans because you have to work late, this is the perfect phrase to use.
It expresses your apology without being too intrusive or making excuses. Examples of how to use this phrase might be:
“I’m sorry, I have to work late tonight, so I won’t be able to make it.”
“I’m really sorry, but I have a work commitment that will keep me at the office until late tonight, so I can’t join you for dinner.”
“I’m sorry, I’m afraid I have to work late tonight, so I won’t be able to make it to dinner.”
2) I’m sorry, I’m not feeling well = sorry i can’t make it
This is one of the most popular phrases used to politely cancel dinner plans. It’s important to keep in mind that using this phrase can be an effective way to cancel without being rude, as it shows that you care about the other person and your health.
When you want to use this phrase, you can structure it in a few different ways.
For example, you could say
“I’m sorry, I’m not feeling well so I won’t be able to make it”
“I’m sorry, I’m feeling under the weather and won’t be able to join you”.
Both of these examples show that you care about your own health and respect the other person’s plans.
In addition, you can use this phrase when you need to cancel for a short-term issue such as a headache or stomachache. It’s important to note that this phrase should only be used when you really aren’t feeling well and not as an excuse to avoid an uncomfortable situation.
Using this phrase is a great way to politely cancel dinner plans without seeming rude or ungrateful. Just remember to be honest with yourself and the other person when using this phrase and only use it if you really aren’t feeling well.
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3) I’m sorry, I have other plans = sorry i can’t make it
This phrase is polite and understanding, and it allows you to cancel dinner plans without being rude. It acknowledges that you already have other commitments and it shows that you value the other person’s time.
You can use this phrase if you already have a previous commitment or if you just don’t feel like going out.
If you need help expressing ” sorry I can’t make it” in English contact us for any questions or support!
For example, you could say,
“I’m sorry, I have other plans tonight. Can we reschedule for another day?”
“I’m sorry, I already had plans made for tonight. Is there another night that works for you?”
This phrase conveys that you are sorry for any inconvenience and that you are willing to make other arrangements.
If you still need help saying “sorry I can’t make it” contact our teachers for support on the website chat.
4) I’m sorry, I don’t think I can make it.
This is a polite and straightforward way to cancel dinner plans with friends. You can use this phrase when you have suddenly remembered a prior commitment or if you just don’t feel up to going out.
It is a polite way to let your friends know that you have to take a rain check on the evening.
“I’m sorry, I don’t think I can make it tonight. I have to finish a project for work.”
You can also use this phrase if you are feeling sick or just not up for a night out.
“I’m sorry, I don’t think I can make it tonight. I’ve been feeling under the weather and need to stay home and rest.”
5) I’m sorry, I have to take care of something = sorry i can’t make it
This phrase is a polite way to cancel dinner plans without giving too much information about why. It’s a simple and non-confrontational way to express that you cannot make it and can be used in a variety of situations.
For example, if you have family obligations that require your attention, you could say “I’m sorry, I have to take care of something.” This phrase also works well when you have other plans that you do not want to discuss or if you need to attend an event that you cannot miss.
In a sentence, this phrase could be structured as follows:
“I’m sorry, I have to take care of something and won’t be able to make it to dinner tonight.”
This phrase allows you to maintain your commitment to being polite while still declining the invitation.
It is also a good way to avoid having an uncomfortable conversation with your friends about why you are unable to make it.
Thank you for reading!
If you need help expressing “Sorry I can’t make it” in English reach out to our teachers in the website chat for support anytime!
This was written by me. Bryce Purnell, founder of Learn Laugh Speak.
Check out more on my Medium or send me an email if you’re ever curious about anything at all
2 thoughts on “I’m sorry, I can’t make it: Phrases to cancel dinner plans”
excellent post, very informative. I wonder why the other experts of this sector do not notice this. You must continue your writing. I’m sure, you have a huge readers’ base already!
Thank you for the comment!