45+ Funny Emoji Combinations That Are Trending on TikTok

Clever, creative, & hilarious emoji combos to use in texts and captions

Looking to spice up your texts and showcase your humor on social media? We’ve got you covered! In this article, we’re sharing the funniest emoji combos that are currently trending on TikTok. We’ve also included the meanings of each emoji combination, as well as examples of how to use them so you can make all your friends and followers laugh.

Funniest Emoji Combos (Copy & Paste)

• 🫷😣🫸 = I need space
• 😯☝️😐✊ = Nevermind
• 👁👄👁 = Shock or disbelief
• 🍿🤏😯 = Drama is going down
• 👉 👈 = I’m feeling shy or nervous
• ☕️🐸 = But that’s none of my business
• 🧎🏼‍♀️🏌️‍♀️ = Bonking someone on the head

Steps

👉 👈 (feeling shy)

1. Use 👉 👈 if you want to ask a soft yet risky question. This emoji combo looks like someone is twiddling their fingers together while they work up the courage to say what’s on their mind.^[1] It’s perfect if you want to admit your feelings to your crush or express that you’re nervous. You can also pair it with the 🥺 (pleading face) emoji to “simp” for someone, or give them excess attention.
   
   • “Do you want to grab dinner next Friday night? 👉 👈”
   • “I just wanted to tell you that I think you’re super pretty 👉 👈🥺”

🚪🏃‍♀️💨 (time to leave)

1. Text 🚪🏃‍♀️💨 if you’re heading out or running late to an event. Think of this emoji combination as another way of saying “I gotta go.” Whether you forgot to pick someone up or you've decided to leave a lame event, it tells the other person that you’re dashing out the door.
   
   • “I’m running behind, but about to leave my house 🚪🏃‍♀️💨”
   • “Getting ready to leave 🚪🏃‍♀️💨 Do you need me to bring anything?”

🍿🤏😯 (drama is going down)

1. Send 🍿🤏😯 when something big is happening. This emoji combo can be used to convey shock, interest, or eagerness for details. Let’s say your friend is spilling some tea. Replying with 🍿🤏😯 is like saying “No way! Tell me more.”
   
   • Them: “Katie is breaking up with Matt right now!”
     You: “🍿🤏😯”

👁👄👁 (blank stare)

1. Text 👁👄👁 when you’re in shock or disbelief. With wide eyes and a slack-jawed mouth, the 👁👄👁 emoji combination conveys a surprised or bewildered look.^[2] It’s sometimes used to connote the phrase “it is what it is,” meaning you have to accept a frustrating situation because there’s nothing you can do to change it.^[3]
   
   • “Did you see the election results? 👁👄👁”
   • “Rumor has it that Taylor and Travis broke up 👁👄👁”

🕳👨‍🦯 (I didn’t see anything)

1. Use 🕳👨‍🦯 to indicate you’re ignoring something. When you come across something you don’t want to accept, 🕳👨‍🦯 means you’re pretending not to see it.^[4] This could refer to red flags in a relationship or parts of your life you’re unsatisfied with.
   
   • “Me ignoring all his red flags 🕳👨‍🦯”
   • “I’ve learned to dissociate so I’m not sad 24/7 🕳👨‍🦯”

👩🤏👩‍🦲 (wig snatched)

1. Use 👩🤏👩‍🦲 when you’re amazed, stunned, or awestruck. The slang phrase “snatched” means something is fierce or “on point,” usually in terms of personal appearance.^[5] If your friend is wearing a cute outfit or their makeup looks picture perfect, for example, use 👩🤏👩‍🦲 to compliment them.
   
   • Them: “Did you see Rihanna’s look at the Met Ball?”
     You: “👩🤏👩‍🦲”
     Them: “I KNOW!”
     You: “She ATE and left no crumbs.”

🐂💩 (bulls***)

1. Reply with 🐂💩 when someone is talking nonsense. If someone is lying to you or being overly dramatic for no reason, use 🐂💩 to call out their behavior. It’s short, simple, and straight to the point!
   
   • Them: “Did you hear they’re trying to revoke her gold medal?”
     You: “🐂💩”

😎🤏😳🕶🤏 (excuse me?)

1. Use 😎🤏😳🕶🤏 to say “repeat that?” or “what did I just see?”{endbold} This emoji combination is the equivalent of doing a double take in real life. It conveys shock and disbelief, especially if the other person does something “sus” or questionable.
   
   • Them: “I kissed Henry…”
     You: “😎🤏😳🕶🤏”

👉🙄👈 (not listening)

1. Reply with 👉🙄👈 to ignore someone over text. If someone keeps giving you unsolicited advice or bringing up things you don’t care about, 👉🙄👈 is a quick way to move onto the next topic. It can come off as rude or childish, so avoid using it if the other person is being serious.
   
   • “La la la la la la 👉🙄👈”
   • “I can’t hear you 👉🙄👈”

😃👉🚪 (you can leave)

1. Send 😃👉🚪 if someone shares an unpopular opinion. Most people use 😃👉🚪 to joke around with their friends, especially if they make a controversial statement. It’s a great way to make someone laugh and inject some lighthearted energy into the conversation.
   
   • Them: “Shrek 3 is the best.”
     You: “😃👉🚪”
     Them: “?”
     You: “Shrek 2 is superior.”

☕🤏 (the tea is piping)

1. Respond with ☕🤏 if someone spills some juicy gossip. This emoji combo is another way of saying “the tea is piping hot.” In slang, the term “tea” refers to gossip or inside information.^[6] So, shoot a ☕🤏 if someone shares news that’s particularly exciting, scandalous, or revealing.
   
   • Them: “OMG, Blaire kissed Chris last night!”
     You: “☕🤏”

😌💅 (feeling pretty or sassy)

1. Use 😌💅 when you’re feeling extra confident. Did you just get a fresh manicure or blowout? Drop the 😌💅 emoji combo to say you’re feeling fabulous! It can also convey sass, nonchalance, or self-confidence, especially if you’re entering your baddie era.
   
   • “Just went to the salon to get a lash lift 😌💅”
   • “I told him that I don’t play games and he better not embarrass me 😌💅”

😃🖕(does it look like I care?)

1. Drop 😃🖕 to flip someone off in a funny way. It’s a silly and sarcastic response you can use if someone is teasing you or being a little annoying. Some people use it to express nonchalance, especially if the other person brings up something embarrassing from the past.
   
   • Them: “Your burnt cookies were a hit at the housewarming.”
     You: “😃🖕”

🕳🪂 (bye or alright)

1. Use 🕳🪂 to say goodbye a silly way. This emoji combination features someone skydiving into a black hole, which can represent removing yourself from a situation.^[7] If the other person is getting upset or defensive, you can send 🕳🪂 to calmly exit the conversation and give them time to cool down.
   
   • Them: “You should have told me what he said.”
     You: “I didn’t want to ruin your night.”
     Them: “That’s irrelevant.”
     You: “🕳🪂”

😯☝️😐✊ (nevermind)

1. Send 😯☝️😐✊ to take back what you said. You can use this emoji combo in place of “nevermind” to save time and space while you’re texting. If you want the other person to ignore a previous text you sent, 😯☝️😐✊ can also be used to move forward in the conversation.
   
   • Them: “I think we should take the train to Boston.”
     You: “...”
     Them: “?”
     You: “😯☝️😐✊”

☕️🐸 (but that’s none of my business)

1. Send ☕️🐸 after making a shady comment about someone. This silly emoji combo is based on a viral meme of Kermit the Frog sipping tea. People say “but that’s none of my business” after making a snide remark about someone, usually if they do something stupid or questionable.^[8]
   
   • “I heard they were caught stealing from CVS but ☕️🐸”
   • “Julia’s mad at Beth because she was flirting with her man ☕️🐸”

🙄🤝😐 (okay, I guess)

1. Use 🙄🤝😐 to reluctantly agree with someone. It’s the perfect response when someone forces you to do something you don’t want to do, such as going out when you feel like staying in. Think of it as another way of saying, “okay, I guess” or “only if you really need me to.”^[9]
   
   • Them: “We should go clubbing this weekend.”
     You: “🙄🤝😐”

🛌🏃‍♀️ (time for bed)

1. Send 🛌🏃‍♀️ when you’re sleepy and want to end the chat. If you’re texting someone and it’s getting late, use 🛌🏃‍♀️ to tell them you’re heading to bed. It’s a simple way to end the conversation and imply you’ll talk to them later.
   
   • “Talk to you tomorrow 🛌🏃‍♀️”
   • “I’m heading to bed soon 🛌🏃‍♀️”

🛌🤺 (wake up)

1. Send 🛌🤺 if someone isn’t responding to you. If you’ve texted someone multiple times and they haven’t replied (or you think they’ve slept past all their alarms), 🛌🤺 is a funny way to say “wake up, sleepyhead.” Feel free to blow up their phone if you’ve made plans with them or need to share urgent news.
   
   • “HELLLLOOOOO? 🛌🤺”
   • “You need to wake up!!!! 🛌🤺”

🤸‍♀️🚊 (secondhand embarrassment)

1. Use 🤸‍♀️🚊 if you see something cringy and want to share it. This emoji combo features a person cartwheeling in front of a train, which can symbolize the feeling of wanting to die from embarrassment. Send it to someone if you come across flat-out foolish behavior.
   
   • “Just witnessed someone spill coffee down their shirt 🤸‍♀️🚊”
   • “This drunk girl just crashed into a bunch of bar stools 🤸‍♀️🚊”

🤡🪞 (look in the mirror)

1. Send 🤡🪞 to tell someone they’re acting ridiculous. The 🤡 (clown face) emoji represents silliness or foolishness, while the 🪞 (mirror) emoji represents awareness and self-reflection. Together, these two emojis can be used to playfully tease someone and tell them they’re “acting like a clown,” or being foolish.^[10]
   
   • Them: “I’m so mad I decided to get a bob. I should have listened to you and got a hime cut instead.”
     You: “🤡🪞”

🦗🦟🦗🦟🦗🦟 (throwing it back)

1. Use 🦗🦟🦗🦟🦗🦟 when you’re dancing and enjoying yourself. Whether you’re twerking, booty clapping, or busting out random moves, the 🦗🦟🦗🦟🦗🦟 emoji combination indicates you’re having a good time. Send it the next time you hit the club or throw a dance party in your bedroom.
   
   • “I was twerking 🦗🦟🦗🦟🦗🦟 at the club.”
   • “Megan Thee Stallion got me like 🦗🦟🦗🦟🦗🦟”

🙄🤚 (um, anyways)

1. Drop 🙄🤚 to quickly dismiss someone over text. If you don’t agree with what someone is saying or they rudely interrupt you, 🙄🤚 is a sassy way to shut them down. It will probably offend the other person or make them feel some type of way, so reserve it for the times you couldn't care less.
   
   • “Um chile anyways 🙄🤚”
   • “Back to what I was talking about 🙄🤚”

🎷🐛 (jazz music)

1. Send 🎷🐛 when you’re listening to jazz music. This emoji combination doesn’t have much use in everyday conversation, but it’s so cute and silly that we had to include it! Text it when you want to invite someone to a jazz show, or when you’re talking about the genre in general.
   
   • “Ya like jazz? 🎷🐛”
   • “Want to go to a jazz club this weekend? 🎷🐛”

🌚🥂🌝 (cheers, bestie)

1. Use 🌚🥂🌝 to raise a toast to your BFF and brighten their day. If you want to celebrate your bestie’s success and make them feel good, 🌚🥂🌝 is the perfect emoji combo to shower them with love. Feel free to switch out the moon emojis with other emojis that suit your personalities.
   
   • “Cheers to being single in the city 🌚🥂🌝”
   • “Here’s to being thirty, flirty, and thriving 👸🏻🥂👸🏾”

🎤🦆 (talk your s***)

1. Text 🎤🦆 to encourage someone to share their thoughts. This emoji combo is a fan favorite on TikTok because the mic reaches the duck’s beak perfectly. Send it whenever your friend is feeling stressed and you want to encourage them to say what’s on their mind.
   
   • Them: “I’m low key beefing with my roommate rn…”
     You: “🎤🦆”

🚂💭🚫🧐 (lost my train of thought)

1. Use 🚂💭🚫🧐 if you suddenly forget what you were going to say. For the times you can’t think straight, 🚂💭🚫🧐 is a funny way to say your mind is going blank. Use it when you’re in the middle of a conversation and your concentration is interrupted.
   
   • “Sorry, I just lost my train of thought 🚂💭🚫🧐”
   • “I completely blanked during my interview 🚂💭🚫🧐”

😐😶😶‍🌫️🫥 (Irish goodbye)

1. Send 😐😶😶‍🌫️🫥 if you’re leaving a party without saying goodbye. An “Irish goodbye” is when you leave a social gathering without telling anyone.^[11] It’s moderately socially acceptable, so send 😐😶😶‍🌫️🫥 when you feel like vanishing or silently exiting a party.
   
   • “I left the party like 😐😶😶‍🌫️🫥”
   • “Me leaving any work function: 😐😶😶‍🌫️🫥”

✋😬🤚 (backing away)

1. Use ✋😬🤚 to move on from a touchy topic. If you’re talking about something sensitive or controversial, send ✋😬🤚 to say you want to switch topics. It’s a lighthearted way to move forward in the conversation, especially if the other person might be getting upset.
   
   • Them: “I can’t believe he cheated on me.”
     You: “Yeah, especially since you were way out of his league.”
     Them: “Girl, what???”
     You: “✋😬🤚”

🫵🤣 (you’re a joke)

1. Use the 🫵🤣 emoji combo to playfully tease someone. If they tell you a joke or do something stupid, send 🫵🤣 to poke fun at them in a friendly manner. It’s a great way to tease someone and let them know they made you laugh.^[12]
   
   • “Your jokes get me every time 🫵🤣”
   • “I’m DEAD. You seriously thought you would marry Harry Styles 🫵🤣”

☝️😌 (actually)

1. Text ☝️😌 to pause the conversation or bring up another point. Over text, it can be tricky to interrupt someone, but sending ☝️😌 is an easy way to give your two cents. Feel free to switch out the smiley face emoji with one that matches your situation. If you’re correcting your friend, for example, you could use the 🤓 (nerd) emoji to say “well actually.”^[13]
   
   • “I won first place in our grade spelling bee, not second ☝️🤓”
   • “That reminds me ☝️😌 Didn’t you say you wanted to get a new piercing?”

💪😎 (feeling pumped)

1. Drop 💪😎 if you’re feeling excited or energized. Most people use this emoji combination after they’ve completed a workout, but you can also use it to express excitement about an upcoming event or life in general.
   
   • “I’m so excited for our daily walk 💪😎”
   • “I changed my workout routine and I’ve never felt stronger 💪😎”

🫲🤨🫱 (what’s happening here?)

1. Send 🫲🤨🫱 to get more details about a situation. It’s a silly way to ask follow up questions if your friend spills some gossip. According to some TikTok users, 🫲🤨🫱 can also be used to say “where’s my hug?”
   
   • “So, I saw you and Johnathan were getting cozy last night…. 🫲🤨🫱”
   • “I heard you hosted a party last weekend. Where was my invite? 🫲🤨🫱”

😶💬 (speechless)

1. Use 😶💬 when you’re in shock or can’t think of what to say. If someone shares news or gossip that’s absolutely bonkers, 😶💬 is a perfectly acceptable response. It means you can’t think of an appropriate response on the spot.
   
   • Them: “The entire marketing team got fired this morning.”
     You: “😶💬”

🫷😣🫸 (give me space)

1. Use 🫷😣🫸 when you’re feeling overwhelmed. If you just received earth shattering news, this emoji combination can be used to request some alone time. Send it whenever you need a breather or an extended period of peace and quiet.
   
   • “I’m feeling so overwhelmed 🫷😣🫸”
   • “Give me a moment to process that 🫷😣🫸”

👊🤠✋ (hit the nae nae)

1. Send 👊🤠✋ to hype up your friends or family members. If you ever wanted to hit the nae nae over text, here’s your chance! This emoji combo is one of the funniest ways to hype someone up about going out. Send it as a warmup to the pregame or whenever you want to give them the giggles.
   
   • “I can’t wait to dance the night away 👊🤠✋”
   • “So excited to tear up the dance floor with you 👊🤠✋”

🙄⌚️👞 (you’re taking too long)

1. Text 🙄⌚️👞 to tell someone to hurry up. If your friend or family member is running late, use 🙄⌚️👞 to tell them to get a move on. It conveys that you’re tired of waiting for them and they’re taking too long to meet up with you.^[14]
   
   • “Where are you? I’ve been outside for 10 minutes 🙄⌚️👞”
   • “Ugh, I made dinner plans with Genelle and she’s 20 min late 🙄⌚️👞”

😚🤌 (chef’s kiss)

1. Send 😚🤌 when something is unbelievably good or delicious. People usually say something is “chef’s kiss” in reference to food. It’s supposed to resemble a chef kissing their pinched fingers because they made something super delicious.^[15]
   
   • “The linguine alle vongole is 😚🤌. Magnifico!”
   • “I think I’m in love. He made me dinner and it was 😚🤌”

💨🚣 (I’m heading out)

1. Text 💨🚣 when you’re ready to leave a lame event. The 💨🚣 emoji combo is a funny way to say you’re about to leave soon. It’s ideal for awkward happy hours, boring family events, and other situations that are borderline unbearable.
   
   • “Aight, I’m finna head out 💨🚣”
   • “This party is dead. I’m about to dip 💨🚣”

🧎🏼‍♀️🏌️‍♀️(bonking someone on the head)

1. Use 🧎🏼‍♀️🏌️‍♀️ to knock someone sense into someone. If you’re talking to someone with their head in the clouds,🧎🏼‍♀️🏌️‍♀️ is a funny text to help them come back to reality. Feel free to use it if your friend is overthinking a situation or can’t get over someone who’s mid.
   
   • “Dude, that’s not normal. Wake up and break up with her🧎🏼‍♀️🏌️‍♀️”
   • “You are SO beautiful, and you don’t even know it. I wanna🧎🏼‍♀️🏌️‍♀️ you sometimes!”

👶🤾‍♀️🗑️ (mad at someone’s baby)

1. Send 👶🤾‍♀️🗑️ if a baby won’t stop crying or annoying you. While you can’t perform the actions of this emoji combo in real life, you can always send 👶🤾‍♀️🗑️ to relieve some stress and give your friend a laugh. Use it whenever a baby or toddler is getting on your last nerve.
   
   • “The kid behind me keeps kicking my seat 👶🤾‍♀️🗑️”
   • “A baby was crying nonstop on my 16-hour flight 👶🤾‍♀️🗑️”

🍧🦈 (feeling hungry)

1. Drop 🍧🦈 when you’re absolutely starving or hangry. It's a humorous way to say you’re super hungry and in need of food ASAP. People often use it when they’re hangry, or feeling angry or irritable due to hunger.^[16]
   
   • “I’m STARVING 🍧🦈”
   • “Can we leave soon? I’m getting hangry 🍧🦈”

🥸🤏👓😎 (a “glow up”)

1. Use 🥸🤏👓😎 to talk about a positive personal transformation. In slang, a “glow up” most often refers to positive change in physical appearance and style.^[17] Send 🥸🤏👓😎 if you’re having a glow up yourself or manifesting one in the near future.
   
   • “I definitely glowed up post-college 🥸🤏👓😎”
   • “I’m manifesting my glow up this summer 🥸🤏👓😎”

🤫🧏‍♂️ (mewing)

1. Send 🤫🧏‍♂️ to share beauty tips on getting a stronger jaw. Mewing is a viral TikTok technique that’s supposed to reshape and chisel your jaw.^[18] It’s part of the larger movement of looksmaxxing, or doing whatever you can to improve your appearance. So, send 🤫🧏‍♂️ if you want to share some beauty secrets with friends.
   
   • “The secret to a strong jawline is mewing 🤫🧏‍♂️”
   • “Dude, you gotta start mewing to mog everyone in the room 🤫🧏‍♂️”

🙂🙃🙂✌️ (flipping out)

1. Send 🙂🙃🙂✌️ when you’re getting angry or upset. The phrase “flipping out” refers to losing your composure, especially when someone makes you mad.^[19] Use 🙂🙃🙂✌️ if you’re feeling on edge about something, or just can’t contain your emotions.
   
   • “Ngl, I’m livid about the situation 🙂🙃🙂✌️”
   • “I’m so nervous about the exam results 🙂🙃🙂✌️”

😐😑😐 (slow blink)

1. Use 😐😑😐 when you’re apathetic about something. This emoji combination is perfect for moments when you don’t know what to say. It signals that you’re bored, neutral, or dumbstruck, and it’s a funnier way to reply to someone (compared to sending a Tapback).
   
   • Them: “I’ve been waiting at the bus stop for 10 minutes.”
     You: “😐😑😐”

References

1. ↑ https://safehouseproject.org/blog/post/emoji-acronyms-code-what-are-your-kids-really-saying-online
2. ↑ https://www.dictionary.com/e/gen-z-explains-emoji-to-millennials/
3. ↑ https://www.dictionary.com/e/slang/it-is-what-it-is/
4. ↑ https://moversshakers.co/the-playlist/gen-z-emoji-language
5. ↑ https://www.dictionary.com/e/slang/snatched/
6. ↑ https://www.merriam-webster.com/wordplay/tea-slang-meaning-origin
7. ↑ https://moversshakers.co/the-playlist/gen-z-emoji-language
8. ↑ https://knowyourmeme.com/memes/but-thats-none-of-my-business
9. ↑ https://moversshakers.co/the-playlist/gen-z-emoji-language
10. ↑ https://emojisprout.com/you-are-a-clown-emoji-meaning/
11. ↑ https://www.dictionary.com/e/slang/irish-goodbye/
12. ↑ https://moversshakers.co/the-playlist/gen-z-emoji-language
13. ↑ https://moversshakers.co/the-playlist/gen-z-emoji-language
14. ↑ https://moversshakers.co/the-playlist/gen-z-emoji-language
15. ↑ https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/chef-s-kiss
16. ↑ https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hangry
17. ↑ https://www.dictionary.com/e/pop-culture/glow-up/#
18. ↑ https://aaoinfo.org/whats-trending/is-mewing-bad-for-you/
19. ↑ https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/flip%20out

source How to of the Day https://ift.tt/J2zQLPb

25+ Valid Excuses for Missing a Meeting (+ What to Do If You Have to Miss One)

Learn the best things to say when you just can't make that meeting

If you're going to have to miss a meeting but can't come up with a good excuse, you've come to the right place! Keep reading for all the best excuses when you just can't make it to that meeting but don't want anyone to get too upset. Plus, we talked to professional certified coach Brandy DeOrnellas to find out what you should do after you miss a meeting at work to maintain a good professional reputation.

Good Excuses for Missing a Meeting

• Try a tech-related excuse for virtual meetings, such as saying your Wi-Fi is down.
• Use a health excuse, such as saying you have food poisoning or diarrhea.
• Tell people you're overwhelmed or burnt out and won't be able to focus.
• Blame severe weather for your inability to attend a meeting.

Steps

Tech Excuses

1. Wi-Fi issues{endbold} Sometimes Wi-Fi networks can be awfully finicky! If your attendance is expected at a virtual meeting, trouble connecting is pretty much the easiest reason in the book to justify your absence. Unfortunately, though, this one won't really help you with in-person meetings.
   
   • For example, you might text the person in charge and say, "For some reason my computer can't see my network. I'm gonna shut everything down and try again. Sorry!"
   • If it doesn't seem feasible that your Wi-Fi would be down, you might say that someone changed the password and you don't know how to access the network.
   • Wi-Fi trouble is a decent excuse if you're running late to a virtual meeting but think you will be able to get there eventually. It buys you time to get where you need to be, then you can simply claim that you fixed whatever the issue was.
2. Computer hardware issues{endbold} This is another one that's typically only helpful for virtual meetings. If it's time for the meeting and your hard drive suddenly crashes, people will typically understand why you weren't able to make it. Other parts of a computer can also fail and make it impossible to continue to operate the computer.
   • For example, you might say, "My computer started acting all buggy and after I restarted it the screen is just blank. I don't think I'm going to make that meeting this afternoon."
   • You could even claim that you were unable to get your keyboard to work. Without a keyboard, you can't type in your password to access the virtual meeting.
3. Password or security issues{endbold} A forgotten or compromised password can serve as a reason you can't get to a virtual meeting—in a pinch. Since this is usually a problem that can be resolved relatively quickly, it's best if you're just going to be late, rather than missing the meeting entirely.
   
   • For example, you might text the person who called the meeting and say, "I forgot my password and it's blocked me after too many attempts. Give me a minute to get this sorted and I'll be right there." That gives you a few minutes to get yourself together so you can make an appearance if necessary.
4. Software glitches{endbold} Virtual meetings are typically held through some sort of software platform, such as Zoom. You have little to no control over server errors or software malfunctions on the part of whatever service is hosting the virtual meeting, which makes this a perfect—as well as perfectly inexplicable—excuse.
   • For example, you might say, "I kept logging in and then it kept kicking me out as an unauthorized user. I don't know what's going on. I'm going to try changing my password."
   • Unlike a lot of the tech excuses, this one can actually be used for in-person meetings as well. For example, you could claim that your navigation system glitched and sent you to the wrong location.
5. Power failures{endbold} Did you plug one too many things in and accidentally blow a fuse? Oops! Guess you're not going to be able to make that virtual meeting because now you've got to figure out the problem so you can get everything up and running again.
   
   • This is one you can also be pretty vague about if you're just using it as an excuse to buy you some time. For example, you might say, "Power keeps flickering, I don't know what's going on. Give me 5-10 minutes to make sure everything's stable over here."

Health Excuses

1. Acute illness{endbold} The best options here are illnesses that take you completely out of the game, but only for a day or so—just long enough for you to, unfortunately, miss that meeting. A simple cold typically isn't enough, especially if the meeting is virtual.
   
   • Stomach ailments, such as food poisoning, are often good excuses even if the meeting is virtual. Nobody wants you to appear at the meeting from the toilet!
   • Try something disgusting or embarrassing—people will avoid asking you any further questions about it. Chances are, your boss doesn't want to hear all the details about your explosive diarrhea.
2. Illness or death in your family{endbold} If you have a serious illness, or have to care for someone in your family who has a serious illness, that's a perfectly legitimate excuse to miss a meeting. This is especially true if you have a doctor's appointment that conflicts with the time of the meeting.
   • If you've lost a family member, time to grieve and be with your family is also totally understandable.
   • Be aware that some institutions and employers require proof of the death of a family member, such as a copy of the obituary or funeral program.^[1]
3. Accident or injury{endbold} The thing about an injury is that you usually have to tend to it right away, even if it ultimately turns out not to be a big deal. This type of excuse can be as simple as tripping and falling on your way out the door or as complex as a car accident.
   
   • You might also have to take care of someone else who is injured. If they're relying on you to be with them, that's a perfectly legit reason to miss a meeting.
   • Keep in mind that this excuse works better if it's an accident or injury that just happened, rather than something chronic that you could've worked around.
4. Quarantine or exposure risk{endbold} If you've been exposed to COVID-19 or another contagious disease and you're currently quarantining, you might use that as an excuse to miss any in-person meetings. Unless you have severe symptoms, though, you might be expected to participate virtually.
   • For example, you might say, "I just learned my daughter has COVID-19. She's asymptomatic but I'm afraid I'll have to miss the meeting because I've been exposed and don't want to put everyone else at risk."
   • This excuse also works for in-person meetings if you're worried about being exposed to contagious diseases. It's best if you let the people in charge know well in advance and see if arrangements can be made for you to participate virtually.
5. Allergy or asthma attack{endbold} If you've ever had a condition such as asthma flare-up or had an allergic reaction to something, you know that these are really debilitating in the short-term. And even after the attack, it can take some time for you to get settled and feel normal again. Not to mention that some allergy attacks come with migraine headaches, which can take hours to get rid of.
   
   • For example, you might say, "Something's triggered my allergies and my nose won't stop running. I feel miserable. I'm afraid I'll have to skip the meeting this morning."

Existential Excuses

1. Overwhelm{endbold} When you're struggling and feeling overwhelmed, you just don't have the energy to do everything you have to do. While you can still do some things, feeling overwhelmed is a perfectly legitimate excuse to skip out on that meeting that probably could've been an email.^[2]
   
   • It's okay if you don't feel comfortable explaining this to whoever you need to tell that you're missing the meeting. You could simply say something like, "I'm having a really tough day today and I need to scale back on my commitments, so I won't be able to come to the meeting."
2. Burnout{endbold} If you let yourself stay overwhelmed for too long, burnout can set in, At this point, a mental health day or two would likely do you a world of good. But since the internalized pressure to be productive is part of what leads to burnout in the first place, it can be really hard to make the decision to scale back on your obligations and take some time to yourself.^[3]
   • DeOrnellas notes that "we all need mental health days—they are just as important as days we take to recover from being sick."^[4]
   • "If you don't feel comfortable providing details," DeOrnellas continues, "you can say something as simple as '[I] need to take a day for my health. I'll see you [tomorrow] morning.'"^[5]
3. Time zone issues{endbold} If people are attending the meeting virtually from all over the world, it's possible that the meeting is held at a time that's just not great for you. What's convenient for most people might be the middle of the night for you. If the time doesn't work for you, that's a totally reasonable excuse not to be there.
   
   • Keep in mind that people who are planning an event with a lot of attendees in different time zones typically don't expect everybody to show up. They just choose a time that seems to work for the largest slice of people.
   • If this is something that occurs on a regular basis, you might tell someone in charge that you'd prefer if the meetings were held at a different time at least occasionally so that you could participate.
4. Exhaustion{endbold} Sometimes you're just worn out and it's okay to admit that you're just worn out. Taking some time to recover when you're exhausted will be better for you in the long run than trying to keep pushing yourself.
   • If you get some pushback on this excuse, you might tell them that because you're so exhausted, you're going to have a hard time paying attention or contributing effectively.
5. Mistake or confusion{endbold} You could be the most organized person on the planet and it would still probably happen that you write down the wrong date or time for a meeting. It's also possible that you overslept your alarm, or forgot to even set it, or set it for the wrong time. Mistakes are what make you a human—they don't mean that you're a disrespectful or unprofessional person.^[6]
   
   • The best thing to do here is just be honest. As long as it's not something you're saying every other day, most people will be totally understanding about it. After all, chances are they've done the same thing at some point in their life.

Environmental Excuses

1. Severe weather alert{endbold} If you live in a place where hurricanes, tornadoes, or similar weather events are a threat, you're likely no stranger to severe weather alerts. These alerts are designed to keep you safe by warning you so that you don't take any unnecessary risks—and typically, attending an in-person meeting would be such a risk.
   
   • This could apply to virtual meetings as well, particularly if there's a wind or lightning threat such that you shouldn't be on your computer or Wi-Fi is likely to be unreliable.
2. Storm aftermath{endbold} After a storm has rolled through, you're often still not out of the woods. There might be damage that needs to be repaired or debris that needs to be cleared. In that situation, it totally makes sense to take care of what you need to take care of instead of sitting in a meeting.
   • In the aftermath of a storm, Wi-Fi and cellular service are typically pretty spotty, so this excuse works for virtual meetings as well.
3. Pest control{endbold} It might sound weird, but there are times when a pest infestation can reach the level that you have to miss a meeting to take care of it. This doesn't necessarily mean millions of bugs have descended on your home—it could just as easily mean that you have a rabid raccoon trapped in your laundry room and you're waiting on wildlife handlers to come take care of it.
   
   • For example, you might say, "I'm really sorry, but I've got some squirrels that just ran into my house and are ransacking my kitchen! I'm afraid I won't be able to come to the meeting this afternoon because I've got to get this situation under control!"
4. Flooding{endbold} This could happen in the aftermath of a storm, but it could also happen for other reasons, such as if a pipe burst under your house or if your toilet backed up and overflowed. When there's any amount of flooding, you typically have to take care of it right away if you want to prevent more extensive water damage—so you'd likely have no choice but to miss a meeting.
   • For example, you might say, "My kid just tried to flush one of their toys down the toilet and it's backed up and flooded the whole bathroom. I'm not going to be able to make it to the meeting—I've got to get this mess cleaned up."
5. Power outages{endbold} Power outages often accompany severe weather—and it's not just storms. Extreme cold or heat can put a strain on the local grid and cause outages as well. While this is a better excuse if you have to miss a virtual meeting, it could work for in-person meetings as well depending on the other circumstances.
   
   • For example, if you've been out of power for 3 days in the middle of summer and haven't taken a shower, other meeting attendees would probably totally understand if you didn't want to be there for that reason.

Social Excuses

1. Family drama{endbold} Anything happening with your partner, your parents, or any other member of your family falls into this category of excuses. Often, something like this will be too sensitive for you to want to go into detail about, especially if you're talking to someone who you don't feel particularly close to.
   
   • In this situation, you can give a hint as to the reason without going into too much detail. The way you say it sends the message not to pry.
   • For example, you might say, "I'm sorry I missed the meeting. My partner and I were resolving a housekeeping issue." That sounds so much nicer than saying you were arguing over chores but clearly indicates that you don't want to go into detail about what was discussed.
2. Special occasion{endbold} The reason for missing a meeting doesn't always have to be a bad thing. If the meeting happens to conflict with a birthday party, your niece's graduation, or your parents' 30th wedding anniversary, by all means, go celebrate! These are the memories that make up your life and you don't want to miss them.
   • It's often good here to reassure the person about how important their meeting is. For example, you might say, "I'm sorry I won't make it to the meeting. I know you've been planning this for months, but I have to help with a surprise party for my mom's birthday."
3. Kids{endbold} Yes, they're part of your family, but kids get their own separate category because there are just so many things that kids could potentially get into that would cause you to miss a meeting. This is especially true if you have toddlers or preschool-age kids.
   
   • For example, you might say, "Sorry I missed the meeting—little Tommy had glued himself to the dog."
4. Unexpected visitor{endbold} Did your uncle just show up on your doorstep unannounced after a four-hour drive and ask you to show him around the city? Unfortunately, that might mean that you have to miss a meeting—but most people will understand.
   • The unexpected nature is what makes this excuse valid. If the visit was planned, then you would've had the chance to schedule things around the meeting.
5. Scheduling conflict{endbold} It's really basic, but if you're a busy person, it's likely that at some point you'll have to deal with having 2 things scheduled at the same time. In that situation, the best thing to do is figure out which one is most important and then tell the other that you have to do that instead.
   
   • For example, you might say, "I'm sorry that I have to miss your meeting. My SCUBA test is scheduled for the same time and I have to pass that before we go to Bermuda on Sunday."
   • This is a pretty easy excuse if you're required to be at one thing and not the other because you actually don't have any choice.

Extreme Excuses

1. Astrology or fortune-telling{endbold} What if a fortune teller told you that you would die a painful death if you left your house today? If you believed that fortune teller, that would be a pretty powerful reason not to show up at a meeting—and so would a similar prediction based on your astrological charts.
   
   • You could also use this excuse as a sort of joke if people already know that you're not going to show up to the meeting and aren't bothered by it.
   • It's probably not a good idea to use this excuse if you have to miss a school- or work-related meeting. The people in charge might not take too kindly to it.
2. Missing person{endbold} When someone goes missing, time is of the essence. You might've heard that the first 48 hours are the most crucial. If someone you love goes missing and you have a meeting that's supposed to take place within those first 48 hours? It's safe to say this is a good excuse to skip that meeting.
3. Crime witness or victim{endbold} While it might not be incredibly common for people to go missing, it's often a little more common for people to be the victim of a crime or to see a crime being committed. When that happens, you usually have to wait quite a while for police to come and take a report.
   
   • You're also likely to be so caught up in the moment that you wouldn't even think about the fact that you were missing a meeting until you'd already missed it.
   • While this can be a relatively uncommon excuse, most people will accept it as valid if you show them a copy of your police report.
4. Performance of an act of heroism{endbold} Did you have to stop and rescue a puppy from a river, or a kitten from a tree? Did you save a woman and her baby from a burning car? These are all perfectly legitimate excuses to miss a meeting. Even if someone is inclined to think that your story isn't 100% true, it would be a bad look for them to get upset at you for missing a meeting because of something like this.
   • Keep in mind, also, that a lot of these rescue situations require a lot of debriefing afterward. You'll likely need to speak to police and medical professionals and describe what you did.
5. Prank victim{endbold} This excuse is more likely to be accepted on some days (think April Fool's Day) than others, but the fact remains that there are some people out there for whom pranking is a year-round pursuit. Some pranks can be pretty messy and extremely disruptive, causing you to need to miss a meeting.
   
   • For example, if a gallon of paint spills over your head when you open your front door, you're going to have a lot of work to do before you're ready to attend a meeting, either in-person or virtually.

Apologizing for a Missed Meeting

1. Make a clear and simple apology as soon as possible. When you have to miss a meeting, you're potentially wasting other people's time and effort. An apology shows that you respect them and regret any inconvenience you might have caused them.^[7]
   
   • For example, you might say, "I'm sorry I missed the meeting. My cousins showed up unannounced and I had to figure out what to do with them. Hopefully, it won't happen again."
   • Since it's best to apologize as soon as possible, it's sometimes easier to reach out via email or text, then follow up later in person. For example, you might write, "Hey everybody—I'm so sorry I missed the meeting. I ran into a bit of trouble with my car on the way there. I'll explain later."

What to Do After Missing a Meeting

1. Reach out to whoever called the meeting as soon as possible. Ideally, you should even tell them before the meeting if you can. This is especially true if it's a one-on-one meeting—otherwise, they're going to show up and wonder where you're at.^[8]
   
   • In a work-related situation, DeOrnellas recommends that you "let your employer know as soon as you realize" that you're going to miss the meeting.^[9]
2. Explain your situation briefly and politely. Think of your excuse as simply explaining where you were and what you were doing, other than being at the meeting. Avoid going into too much detail, just apologize, give the reason, and be done with it.^[10]
   • If you've missed a meeting at work, DeOrnellas recommends getting into the office as quickly as possible: "When you arrive at work, you can share why you're late... Assuming an issue isn't a frequent occurrence, your employer will understand."^[11]
   • "If you have a more personal reason," DeOrnellas continues, "just share what you feel comfortable sharing. You might say something like, 'I'm so sorry I'm late. I had a challenging morning.'"^[12]
3. Offer an alternative or propose a different date. This is really important for one-on-one meetings or meetings that you were supposed to participate in directly and actively. When you take the initiative to offer an alternative, it shows that you actually cared about attending the meeting and are genuinely sorry that you had to miss it.^[13]
   
   • For example, you might say, "I'm sorry my daughter's birthday party kept me from attending the chapter meeting on Wednesday. Can we meet for coffee Friday morning and discuss it? My treat!"
   • Alternatives are important if the person put forth effort to plan the meeting. You're basically assuring them that they don't have to go to all that trouble again.
   • For example, you might say, "I'm sorry I missed our interview on Monday—I had a family emergency. Would you be available on Wednesday afternoon? I'd be happy to host this time."
4. Follow up a week or two later. This step is more important if the meeting was school- or work-related, or if your attendance was required for some reason. You just want to make sure that people's expectations of you haven't changed because you missed that one meeting.^[14]
   
   • If you're worried about your professional reputation, focus on being a little early for all meetings for at least the next couple of months.
   • Avoid continuously bringing it up or talking about whatever your excuse was. Even if people didn't believe you or accept your excuse at first, they'll likely forget all about it as long as it doesn't become an issue again.

Preventing Missed Meetings

1. Use a scheduling app. There are lots of scheduling apps available, most of which you can set up to sync across multiple devices. They also have sharing options, so you can share your calendar with people and avoid getting double-booked.^[15]
   
   • Schedule and set reminders for regular maintenance and other monthly or semi-regular tasks. That will make it less likely that you end up getting caught off-guard by some maintenance issue that you need to take care of right away.
   • Set reminders for special occasions a couple of weeks ahead of the date so you have plenty of time to plan.
2. Get organized so you can find things easily. If you're someone who's frequently late or misses meetings because you can't find something that you desperately need, this one's for you. Start with the last thing that caused you to miss a meeting and set up a system for that, then go from there.^[16]
   
   • For example, if you had to miss a meeting because you couldn't find your keys, you might try placing a hook by the door to hang your keys on. If you get in the habit of always hanging your keys on the hook, you'll never be late because you can't find your keys.
   • Remember that the best organization system is the one that works best for you, and that might not be the one that someone else swears by.
   • So you might try that!

Warnings

• Only use a joke excuse if you're certain that everyone involved is in on the joke. Otherwise, it's far better to just tell the truth. Even if the real reason is slightly embarrassing, it's still better than getting a reputation for dishonesty. DeOrnellas cautions: "Whatever you share, be honest. Our colleagues—like all people—value honesty."^[17]

References

1. ↑ https://uh.edu/provost/students/student-policies/excused-absence-policy/index
2. ↑ https://hbr.org/2020/11/feeling-overwhelmed-heres-how-to-get-through-the-workday
3. ↑ https://hbr.org/2020/11/feeling-overwhelmed-heres-how-to-get-through-the-workday
4. ↑ [v162052_b01]. 15 December 2021.
5. ↑ [v162052_b01]. 15 December 2021.
6. ↑ https://www.inc.com/anita-newton/missed-a-meeting-arrived-late-mispronounced-a-name-what-to-do-after-you-screw-up.html
7. ↑ https://career.uga.edu/news/what_to_do_if_you_missed_an_interview
8. ↑ https://career.uga.edu/news/what_to_do_if_you_missed_an_interview
9. ↑ [v162052_b01]. 15 December 2021.
10. ↑ https://career.uga.edu/news/what_to_do_if_you_missed_an_interview
11. ↑ [v162052_b01]. 15 December 2021.
12. ↑ [v162052_b01]. 15 December 2021.
13. ↑ https://www.inc.com/anita-newton/missed-a-meeting-arrived-late-mispronounced-a-name-what-to-do-after-you-screw-up.html
14. ↑ https://www.inc.com/anita-newton/missed-a-meeting-arrived-late-mispronounced-a-name-what-to-do-after-you-screw-up.html
15. ↑ https://extension.uga.edu/publications/detail.html?number=C1042&title=time-management-10-strategies-for-better-time-management
16. ↑ https://extension.uga.edu/publications/detail.html?number=C1042&title=time-management-10-strategies-for-better-time-management
17. ↑ [v162052_b01]. 15 December 2021.

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