Few things are more annoying than someone who keeps interrupting you while you’re speaking. They’re so desperate for the spotlight that they have no shame in cutting you off and grabbing everyone’s attention or challenging what you have to say. Well, you don’t have to deal with it anymore. Here are 15 comebacks for people who constantly interrupt you — try them on for size!
1. “Can I finish?”
Nip the interruption in the bud by raising a hand and making it clear that you want to finish your thought. Done! This should stop the person from jumping in and dragging the conversation to where they want it to go. Whatever they have to say can wait — you’re speaking now.
2. “As I was trying to say…”
Another tactic is to smile and say this before continuing with your previous thought. This is a good method if there are other people in the conversation who are interested in what you’re saying. This shows them you’re not just going to let them steamroll you — you’re going to get your point across come hell or high water.
3. “Please wait a second.”
If you want to be polite but you also want to finish your train of thought, you could try this approach. Asking the person to please wait is kinder than what they deserve, but hopefully, they’ll apologize and back down. Sometimes they just need to be called out for their behavior to make them aware of it (and stop it).
4. “Let’s hear what you have to say.”
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If the person is a chronic interrupter, they might just run off with their words and not care how it makes you feel. Using a bit of humor, such as by saying, “Okay, let’s hear what you have to say, seeing as though it’s so important,” can help to get the message across that their behavior is annoying.
5. “Oh, you’re talking now? Okay.”
You could also hint that their behavior is not okay by trying this approach. It’s almost like saying, “Oh, I didn’t realize it was your turn to speak” even though everyone knows it wasn’t! Hey, a bit of sarcasm can help you get through to them (or at least make it clear that you’re not happy with being talked over all the time).
6. “I didn’t know we were playing a game of ‘who’s louder?'”
A bit of humor can diffuse the situation while getting the interrupter to stop. If they always jump into your conversations and try to speak louder so you can’t get back on track with what you were saying, it can be useful to take a little jab at them. Just do it with a smile and you’re golden!
7. “I don’t feel heard.”
If you don’t want to use humor, you might want to express how the interruptions make you feel. If the person’s constantly cutting in, you should use “I feel” statements to explain that their behavior is inappropriate and hurtful. For example, “I feel attacked/mocked/insulted when you interrupt me.”
8. “Relax, you’ll get a chance.”
If the person’s rude and you can’t handle them anymore, telling them to relax can be satisfying. It also tells them that they don’t have to panic because they’ll get a chance to grab the spotlight when you’re done. This approach might be a tad rude, but it’s an option if you’ve had enough.
9. Ignore it and carry on talking!
Steal a page out of the interrupter’s handbook by continuing to say what’s on your mind. Why should you have to stop talking so they can have their moment? If they continue to talk over you, just elevate your own voice so you’re heard. Sure, it’s a bit petty, but aren’t they being petty themselves?
10. Stop talking and fold your arms.
An effective way to get your message across is with your body language — no words required! Stop talking but show the person you’re upset by crossing your arms. Stare at them until they finish. Of course, if they’re totally clueless on social cues, they won’t notice or care, but a lot of people will!
11. Say nothing and walk away.
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Sometimes the best comeback is to walk away from the situation. The person will see that they’ve upset you and walking away will grab everyone else’s attention, derailing the interrupter’s chance to dominate. This will also keep things from getting too heated, especially if they’re getting on your nerves!
12. Wait for them to take a pause, then say, “Are you done?”
If you let the interrupter have their moment, you might feel angry. Consider waiting for them to pause, then asking if they’ve finished their oh-so-important thought so you can go ahead and finish what you were trying to say. Stay calm so you don’t self-combust and escalate the situation.
13. Make them aware of it.
If the person keeps interrupting you whenever you’re in the same room, you’ve got to confront them. You might not want to do it in the moment, but whether you do or you chat with them later, it can put a stop to their behavior. You could say, “I know you didn’t mean to interrupt me during that conversation, but could you be more aware of it in the future?”
14. Repeat their words back to them.
Give the interrupter a taste of their own medicine. So, if they cut you off by saying, “Wait, let me quickly jump in,” you could do the same thing back to them. Show them how upsetting it is to be interrupted.
15. Ask them questions.
If the person has cut in to challenge what you’re saying, a good tactic is to challenge what they’re saying back. Ask questions and engage with them. It might prove interesting for you by giving you more information – hey, make the interruption work for you!
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