There’s nothing worse than feeling attacked by someone who’s rude to you. While you might think that it’s best not to say anything or walk away, that’s not always what you want to do. This is especially the case if the person who’s dishing a rude comment is someone you care about – you want the relationship to overcome whatever hurdle is in your path. On the other hand, if a stranger is mean, you might want to shut them down with a chirp. Here are 15 effective phrases to use when someone’s rude to you. Nip that rude ‘tude in the bud!
1. “Noted.”
“Noted” is an easy way to shut down a comment. It tells the person that you’ve heard what they have to say but you’re shutting down the conversation. They can’t really continue, because you’re refusing to engage. And, even if they continue to vent, you’ve checked out. They’re wasting their time because you’re not letting their words affect you.
2. “Can You Repeat That?”
When you challenge someone who’s given you a rude comment, sometimes they back off. Maybe they weren’t expecting a response. Asking someone to repeat what they said is a good way to shine a spotlight on their words, like if they were mumbling a chirp at you, and it puts them on the spot without you having to do much more. Nice one.
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4. “You’re Not Being Very Nice.”
If the comment’s really rude or you feel disrespected, you have every right to tell the person that they’re not being nice to you. Call out their crappy behavior and make them realize that they’re not being a decent person to you RN. They might be used to people taking their comments, but show them that you’re not going to be walked all over.
5. “Oh Really?”
Another way to confront the rude person is to ask, “Oh really?” What’s genius about this reply is that you can make it sound amused or sarcastic, depending on what you feel suits your mood in the moment. If you really want to throw the person off, then go straight for the humorous response, which takes us to the next comment.
6. “That’s Hilarious!”
When someone’s mean to you, they’re not expecting you to laugh off the comment or laugh at them. They want you to look angry or sad. Don’t give them what they want! Now’s the time to hide your pain and have a good laugh at what they’ve said. Make them feel small and silly. Works every time.
7. “I Didn’t Ask You For Your Opinion.”
Shut down that rude comment by telling the person that you never asked for their opinion. So, a rude person who wants to tell you that you’re making a mistake in your career or relationship needs to be shut down by being reminded that their opinion means squat to you. Hey, you could even include that in your retort.
8. “Are You Okay?”
A different approach when replying to someone who’s given you a nasty comment is to take a step back and ask them if they’re doing okay. If someone’s hurt or in pain, they might be lashing out. It doesn’t make it right, but it can give you some greater perspective on the situation. Some people soften when others are kind to them, and if this is someone you care about, they’ll feel the love.
9. “What Do You Mean?”
Asking the person what they mean by their comment doesn’t have to be defensive or sarcastic. Maybe you’re asking them to explain vague or confusing words. This is a good move if you’re doubtful of their meaning, because many fights erupt from misunderstandings, like if the person struggles to express themselves. You don’t need that drama.
10. “Well, I Disagree.”
The person’s had their say and were mean, but now it’s your turn to tell them that you don’t agree with them. They might be self-righteous and think they’re right, but you know what? That’s BS. You have a right to believe what you want to believe. Doesn’t hurt to point that out. You could also tell the person, “Let’s agree to disagree.”
11. “Thanks For The Feedback.”
Okay, thanking the person for their feedback might not be what you want to do because it seems too nice, but maybe you’d rather take the high road. This can be more hurtful to the person than if you lose your cool and insult them. Again, they’re waiting for a negative response, but don’t give it to them. Leave them confused about what you’re doing.
12. “Let’s Talk When You’re Calmer.”
If your BF is mean to you or your bestie makes a rude remark, they could be having a bad day. Getting out of the situation is the best thing as it prevents fighting and OTT drama. So, suggest that you’ll talk to the person a bit later, when you’ve both had some time to cool down and reflect.
13. “Excuse Me For A Sec.”
Maybe you don’t want to talk to the person later about whatever’s on their mind. Maybe they’re a frenemy that you can’t deal with. You don’t have to stick around. Excuse yourself and exit the situation. You’ll prevent engaging in conflict and maintain your composure, while shutting down the nasty comment by walking away.
14. “I’m Not Engaging In An Unproductive Conversation.”
Another way to stop the rude person in their tracks is to tell them you’re not going to engage in an unproductive conversation. This works well because it prevents you from getting tangled in a hostile argument, while reminding the person that what they’re doing is a waste of everyone’s time. Yeah, it’s a sneaky diss!
15. “Nope.”
If you don’t want to receive the nasty comment or have a convention with the person, then just say “Nope.” That’s it. You don’t need to explain yourself for why you’re not giving them an explanation or full answer. You’re just saying that this isn’t what you want to deal with RN. And, if the person’s made a personal comment about you, saying “Nope” is basically telling them you disagree and they’re wrong. Win-win.
16. Or, Don’t Say Anything.
If you really don’t want to engage with a rude person, like if you’re at a social gathering, you don’t have to. Simply ignore the person. If they really want to be mean, they might continue dishing you belittling comments or try to rile you up. Don’t take the bait. It’s not always easy, but just think of how they’re only making themselves look bad.
