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Accidentally calling someone can be a little annoying, whether it’s on Instagram, WhatsApp or just your phone, but it’s usually no big deal. However, if you find yourself tongue-tied when you discover you’ve accidentally called someone, read on for the best excuses you can come up with to help smooth over the awkwardness. And by chance you “accidentally” invited someone on purpose? Don’t worry – we’ve got you covered for that too.
- – My phone was in my pocket.
- “My pet walked on my phone.”
- “The child was playing with my phone.”
- “I was trying to decline another call.”
- “I have a new phone and I don’t know how to use it yet.”
– My phone was in my pocket. “Pocket dial” or “but dial” is a common occurrence. In fact, as many as 30% of emergency calls are accidental out-of-pocket calls. Chances are, someone you accidentally called has done it before, so they’ll probably understand and be totally cool about it.[1]
- It works best if: You usually wear pants with pockets and often put your phone in your back pocket.
- Avoid if: Never wear clothes with pockets or never put your phone in your pocket.
“My child was playing with my phone.” Anyone who has spent any time with small children knows that they are constantly grabbing for everything. If your little one is running around, chances are they’ve appropriated your phone at some point, so you know the drill. If you happened to call the other parent, chances are the two of you will have a good laugh together.
- It works best if: You have small children or spend a lot of time with small children (the younger the better) and the person you accidentally called has children.
- Avoid if: You don’t have children or spend time with them.
“The cat walked on my phone.” If you have a cat, you know that it goes wherever it wants. If your cat has yet to walk, stop or even sit on your phone, just give it time. Cat friends will understand when you explain the “paw dial” to them, but be forewarned – they’ll probably ask for a picture of the culprit.
- It works best if: You have a cat and you accidentally called the cat.
- Avoid if: You don’t have a cat.
“I have a new phone and I’m still trying to figure it out.” It’s true, different phones sometimes have a bit of a learning curve and oops! You accidentally called someone! This is a good excuse if you called them “random” on purpose, especially if you immediately talk to them and sound confused. This gives them an opportunity to ask about your new phone. Maybe you could meet for coffee later and they could give you some pointers on that.
- It works best if: You’re not a very tech-savvy person, people mostly know that about you, and you actually have a new phone.
- Avoid if: You are a technician and people know you are a technician; use the same phone you’ve had for years.
“I was cleaning my phone screen.” If you haven’t cleaned your phone today, you probably should—research shows that cell phones have 10 times the amount of bacteria on the average toilet seat.[2]
Gross! Unfortunately, even if it’s locked, cleaning a touchscreen phone can sometimes lead to its activation. Just admit it and whoever you accidentally called will be happy to know you’re cleaning your phone.- It works best if: You have a clean phone.
- Avoid if: Your phone has a cracked screen and you obviously haven’t cleaned it in months, if ever.
“I was trying to decline the phone call.” Your phone starts buzzing and you look down. As you go to decline, you get another notification, so you try to take care of it and end up accidentally calling someone. It could happen to anyone! Saying it was a telemarketer just keeps it neutral so you don’t have to worry about explaining why you declined someone’s call.
- It works best if: You happen to call someone during the day (telemarketers don’t call late at night).
- Avoid if: It’s late at night or super early in the morning.
“I accidentally hit the call button with my fat finger.” Some apps are known for placing that call button right next to another button that you may need to use more often. This can make it easier to tap while you’re scrolling or trying to do something else. It can even happen completely by accident when you were just opening a person’s profile to look at their new picture.
- It works best if: You don’t have good fine motor skills.
- Avoid if: You have extremely thin, tapering fingers, or you often do something that requires delicate precision, such as making dollhouse miniatures or performing surgery.
“I was holding the phone and my finger slipped.” This is another excuse that plays a bit on self-deprecation—it helps if you gently chastise yourself for being clumsy while apologizing to the person you accidentally called. But at the same time, those phones can get slippery! No one will blame you for this, and they might even ask if your phone is okay.
- It works best if: Someone called you “butter fingers” at some point in your life.
- Avoid if: You are known for doing something that requires good posture, such as rock climbing.
“I accidentally pressed the wrong name.” Although some parents are more creative than others, each generation usually has a handful of names that are extremely popular. For example, if you’re an American who was born in 2002, you probably have a lot of Madison and Jacob in your phone.[3]
No one can blame you if you accidentally call the wrong person. Do you want to call them more often on purpose? Request a special nickname that you can use for them in your phone.- It works best if: The person you accidentally called has a fairly common name.
- Avoid if: The person you accidentally called has an unmistakably unique name.
“I just reorganized the icons on the home screen.” Muscle memory is a powerful thing. In fact, research suggests that it could sometimes control movement without any conscious input from your brain.[4]
So if you’re moving those icons around, it might take a little time for your fingers to adjust to what your eyes are seeing clearly. Anyone who has ever done this will completely understand.- It works best if: You have a lot of icons on your home screen, and they are not in their default locations.
- Avoid if: You just have the default home screen icons in the same places they were when you bought the phone.
“I wanted to text you instead of calling you.” This is another easy one to do, especially if you’re navigating from a contact or profile page, where the text and call icons might be right next to each other. Sometimes even the icons themselves can be confusing, leading you to call when you meant to send a message. Just let the person know — it’s no big deal!
- It works best if: You regularly call and text with that person.
- Avoid if: You know the person you accidentally called hates receiving phone calls and will take it personally if you call them instead of texting them.
“My phone must be haunted.” It’s a total joke… unless it isn’t. Even an otherwise plain dial can take on a different meaning if you’re implying that someone is playing with your phone from the other side of the dead. This isn’t for the faint of heart, but if you’re good at acting out all the gory details, this excuse can be fun for you and the person you accidentally called.
- It works best if: Halloween is coming up or you’re feeling a little silly.
- Avoid if: The person you accidentally called has something against ghosts or the supernatural.
- If you accidentally call an emergency number, like 911, don’t hang up! Stay on the line and tell the dispatcher that you called by accident and that you do not need help.[9]
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