There’s nothing worse than hearing insufferable cricket noise during awkward moments. Whether you’re sitting next to someone at the hairdresser or standing around with them at a party, it can be weird to just hang out in silence while sweating up a storm. Enough of that! Here are 15 creative and simple phrases to use as your next party trick.
1. “I love your shirt.”
The quickest way to dissolve the awkward atmosphere is to give the other person a compliment. Maybe you like their hair, shirt, or handbag. Let them know! Everyone likes to be seen and admired.
2. “Where’d you get that…?”
The cool thing about complimenting someone is that it’ll provide you with follow-up questions to keep the conversation going. You could ask the person where they got the t-shirt, bag, or shoes you’ve admired. This will lead to them sharing a story about the item, giving you the chance to learn more about their interests and tastes.
3. “Let me guess…”
Here’s a cool idea: play a guessing game during an awkward moment to break the tension and inject some lightness into the conversation. So, for example, if the person says something like, “I saw these boots on the Louis Vuitton website,” you could say, “Ah, let me guess – their new Fall-Winter collection?”
4. “What brings you here?”
An easy way to initiate a conversation with someone and keep it going is to ask them why they’re currently at the event you’re both attending. This will branch out into follow-up questions, such as the following:
5. “Do you know the host?”
If you’re both at a party, asking how they know or met the host is an easy way to keep the convo flowing. They might share some stories about their relationship with the host, which gives you a chance to find some common ground or shared interests. Maybe they met the host at horse riding lessons years ago, and then that could branch out into a different topic altogether.
6. “Can I help?”
Keep an eye out for anyone who looks like they need assistance with something. Maybe you can see someone trying to find an earring on the floor or desperately searching for a cell phone connection. Reach out and see what’s up! If they’re in a bind, they’ll appreciate your kindness.
7. “Can I ask you something?”
If you’ve heard that the person is a dating coach or is writing a marketing book, now’s your chance to step up and ask them for their advice on something. This will flatter them while giving you a chance to have a meaningful conversation, sidestepping small talk.
8. “You here alone?”
While you might assume this is a pickup line, it doesn’t have to be. It opens the door for the other person to share some information about themselves and their situation. If they’re alone, they’ll probably like getting to know someone new so they don’t have to stand with a drink feeling nervous! On the other hand, if they’re at the party with others, they might chat about their companions or call them over so you can meet them, enlarging your social circle.
9. “This [x] reminds me of…”
It can be helpful to notice something in your environment that reminds you of something in your life or past, and then use this as a conversation starter. So, for example, you could say, “This pizza reminds me of delicious pizza I tried in Naples. Have you traveled much?”
10. “Have you heard…?”
While you want to avoid gossiping with someone because it can make a negative impression, it helps to have some news or tabloid stories up your sleeve to break the ice. If it’s something that’s all over the news, chances are the person will have seen it and will be in a position to discuss it.
11. “Have you met…?”
If you know someone else at the party or event, an awkward silence is the best opportunity to introduce them to this new person. You could say something like, “Oh, have you met Susan? She also loves books” or “Have you met Alex? He’s got such an interesting background.”
12. “Do you live around here?”
It can help you to open up conversation by asking if the person lives nearby. This can also branch out into other topics, such as where they grew up or why they’re spending time in this location if they don’t live in the neighborhood.
13. “What do you like?”
It’s not always easy to come up with something cool to talk about, but don’t panic! Simply ask other people what they like. You could make this more specific, such as by asking what they like to do in their spare time or what they like about the event they’re attending.
14. “No, I’m really interested…”
One of the issues you might encounter when trying to make small talk is that people give you generic or one-word answers. That doesn’t have to be a conversation dead-end, though! For example, if you ask them how their work’s going and they say, “Fine,” take it further by saying something like, “No, I’m really interested. Tell me more.”
15. “I see someone I know. See you later.”
©iStock/Eva-Katalin
Although you want to fill an awkward silence, you don’t want to overstay your welcome. If the conversation’s fizzling out, it’s a smart move to make a graceful exit. You can do this by saying that you’ve noticed someone you want to catch up with. Phew!
16. Find love with the power of your mind — our sister site, Sweetn, shows you how.
Take their fun quiz and try their research-powered tools to transform your love life in weeks. They’ll help you change your perspective on love and relationships and restore your belief that your ideal partner is out there. Click here to start.
