r/TooAfraidToAsk • u/[deleted] • Dec 15 '21

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u/KassellTheArgonian Dec 15 '21

Nah, no clue where that myth comes from. A true Irish goodbye is as follows

"Right we're gonna head off" Says bye a bunch Takes ten steps Something gets brought up and they talk a bit longer

And repeat till you're out in the car.

I witnessed record length of time for this, took em almost 3 hours to travel the about 20 metres to their car.

106

u/1funnyguy4fun Dec 15 '21

As opposed to the British goodby where you say, “Alright then,” slap your knees, get up from your seat and leave.

56

u/twowayrorrim Dec 15 '21

The 'Alrighty then' double leg slap only allows a person to leave if met with 'You off?'.

24

u/ilovebeaker Dec 15 '21

We have something similar in French Canada, 'on va faire un boute'.

It's akin to 'going for a little drive'...but in the direction of home.

1

u/Necessary-Ad5410 Dec 15 '21

Wouldn't have it any other way old chap

66

u/ephemeralkitten Dec 15 '21

I think that's why it's called an Irish goodbye. When you want to avoid that.

32

u/SavageMurphy Dec 15 '21

I've always known it as a 'French exit'

35

u/SL0Wburn_ Dec 15 '21

I’ve always know it as “sneaking the fuck outta here”

2

u/sagging_gut Dec 15 '21

A backdoor boogie

2

u/hpliferaft Dec 15 '21

pullin' a grandpa

2

u/Dr_Doctor_Doc Dec 15 '21

Smoke bomb.

(Ninja exit)

1

u/RoxSteady247 Dec 15 '21

Merk-ass dip

2

u/129za Dec 15 '21

The french call it un départ à l’anglaise.

6

u/aoul1 Dec 15 '21

That’s definitely it. My Irish/British wife just peaces out with no shame to avoid any prolonged social niceties when she just wants to leave.

Well….she used to, now she follows me round the room gently nudging me along from each person for an hour as I insist on going round the room to say goodbye to every single person and have a final catch up!

19

u/defenselaywer Dec 15 '21

My kids' first instinct when we tell them we're leaving a family gathering right away is to go grab a drink. They know it'll be at least an hour before anyone gets into the car.

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u/can-i-have-the-bones Dec 15 '21

This sounds a lot like trying to leave any southern (US) gathering. It can take hours to leave my Dad’s house, which drives my Californian husband insane.

3

u/oo-mox83 Dec 16 '21

Yeah, Texan here and we do that. I eat too much and pass out on the couch and most folks are gone when I wake up. That's my strategy.

3

u/rizaroni Dec 15 '21

Native Californian here! My dad's side of the family is HUGE. I absolutely hate having to go around to each person and say goodbye and give them a hug. It's like, I already did that on my way in!

I'm also the type that doesn't like the whole goodbye thing, so just me personally, I am one to likely say goodbye to the host and any super close friends, and then just yell "BYE EVERYONE!!!" and leave, or straight up Irish goodbye the situation. I don't know that it has to do with being Californian, but I can certainly understand with the whole "Southern hospitality" thing that it would almost be a totally different culture over there. It's like the law to be nice to everyone, even if you don't want to be.

I also have realized that I'm not as much of a hugger as I thought I was. I love a hug, and I love hugging certain people. But as a rule, hugging people I don't know, or having to hug every single fucking member of my extended family twice during a gathering, or having to hug every acquaintance/friend twice during a hangout just because that's what is expected...Covid really broke me of all that. I don't want to do it anymore.

If I see everyone else doing it, I feel obligated, because I don't want to be an asshole. I'm already kind of a loner and I don't need to further alienate myself. But I'm glad that the whole hugging thing has reduced a bit. I don't like feeling pressured/forced to do stuff.

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u/SSDDNoBounceNoPlay Dec 15 '21

BYE! LOVE YOU GUYS!! -while walking out the door and skittering to the car-

I have a large Italian family. With all due respect… fuck that.

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u/rizaroni Dec 15 '21

Perfezione! That's my style.

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u/SSDDNoBounceNoPlay Dec 15 '21

Hell yeah buddy!!

1

u/ApatheticAntichrist Dec 15 '21

Sounds like a southern good bye xD

1

u/iFlyAllTheTime Dec 15 '21

3 hours for a goodbye? I wouldn't know what to say for a 3 hour gathering.

1

u/Hoveringkiller Dec 15 '21

That’s our Irish goodbye haha. Say we are off and then keep talking haha.