75 Classy Ways to Tell Off Someone in Your Life

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Plus, learn how to deal with conflict in a healthy way

Co-authored by Kirsten Thompson, MD and Aimee Payne, MFA

Last Updated: April 30, 2025 Fact Checked

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• At Work
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• Blunt
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• Funny
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• At Home
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• Email
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• Text
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• Dealing with Conflicts

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When you tell someone off, you’re usually not concerned about being polite or classy. However, there are situations when you might want to maintain the relationship in some way. Whether you’re dealing with an annoying coworker or a family member who’s a real pest, getting them to leave you alone without completely trashing the relationship requires a little bit of class. This article will help you tell someone off in a classy or professional way with lots of examples of what to say. Plus, we spoke with relationship experts to get their best advice for dealing with conflicts in a healthy, productive way.

Top 5 Classy Ways to Tell Someone Off

1. Thank you for sharing your thoughts, but I’m confident in my approach.
2. I’m sorry…did you just say something?
3. I wish we were better strangers.
4. I prefer not to entertain further critique at this time.
5. I must say, your incessant need for attention is breathtaking.
6. K.

Steps

Section 1 of 7:

Professionally Classy Ways to Tell Someone Off at Work

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1. 
   Maintain a professional demeanor when telling someone off at work. You can’t just tell off that annoying coworker without risking your job, so take a deep breath and let your emotions settle. “Don't communicate if you're overwhelmed and flooded with too much emotion...that's not the time to resolve any conflict,” advises licensed clinical psychologist Liana Georgoulis. Try out one of these professional ways to tell off a coworker without being reported to HR:

   • I’m sorry, but I need to prioritize my current responsibilities.
   • Thank you for sharing your thoughts, but I’m confident in my approach.
   • I understand your curiosity about this project, but I prefer not to discuss it at this time.
   • I’m currently working on some pressing deadlines. I’m unable to assist you, but I’m confident you’ll be able to find other assistance.
   • I’m flattered by your interest in my work, but I’m not available to discuss it right now.
   • Thank you for your concern, but I prefer to approach this situation in my own way.
   • I value your feedback, but I believe I have a good handle on this task.
   • I appreciate your attention, but I’m not currently looking for a partner on this project.
   • I have a lot on my plate at the moment and need to prioritize my commitments.
   • I prefer not to entertain further critique at this time.
   • I’m unavailable right now, but I’m sure you can find a suitable solution on your own.
   • I value your input, but I need some uninterrupted time to concentrate on this task.
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Section 2 of 7:

Blunt & Classy Ways to Tell Someone Off

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1. 
   Stay classy to tell someone off in a civilized manner. Sometimes, a passive-aggressive set-down is perfectly acceptable because getting openly confrontational isn’t appropriate. Keep things classy while still getting your point across with one of these polite (and possibly passive-aggressive) ways to tell someone off:

   • I’m sorry, but I can’t “people” right now.
   • This isn’t a good time. How about never?
   • I’d really rather be playing solitaire right now.
   • Oh, you’re still here?
   • I wish I had superpowers, then I could make you disappear.
   • I’m sorry…did you just say something?
   • Should I expect a sequel to your bad excuse, or is that it?
   • Thanks for the offer, but I don’t like humans.
   • If you don’t mind, I’d like to stop listening to you now.
   • Please find somewhere else to exist.
   • I wish there were more distance between us.
   • Your absence is currently required.
   • You should live and be well, but you shouldn’t make a habit of it.

Section 3 of 7:

Funny & Classy Ways to Tell Someone Off

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1. 
   Tell someone off with class and a little humor. Humor is a great way to relieve stress and relax your muscles. With the right balance of humor and pointed words, you can tell them off… and maybe give yourself and any bystanders a chuckle. Use these hilarious and classy ways to tell someone off:

   • You lost me at hello.
   • How about you make like a tree and leave?
   • I think you just need a high five…in the face…with a chair.
   • Well, this is embarrassing for you.
   • I find your constant presence as refreshing as a root canal.
   • I wish we were better strangers.
   • I admire your commitment to being completely useless.
   • I’d love to, but I’m busy not doing anything.
   • Do you hear that? It’s the sound of me not caring.
   • It’s not me. It’s you.
   • Row, row, row your boat…gently away from me.
   • Get busy leaving or get busy dying.
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Section 4 of 7:

Classy Ways to Tell Someone Off at Home

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1. 
   Get a little space without completely ruining your relationships. Family members can be so aggravating, but they’re still family. “Giving yourself the time and space to calm down and analyze your immediate emotional reaction, as well as considering the situation from their point of view, will allow you to approach the conflict from a more logical, productive standpoint at a later time,” advises Board-certified psychiatrist Kirsten Thompson. Tell them off without causing too much family strife with one of these comments:

   • I really hope you can work through your issues to find happiness…but somewhere else.
   • Maybe you should go somewhere and seek some help to work through your problems.
   • You clearly have a lot going on right now. Maybe you should go work on that.
   • It’s really impressive how you insert yourself into every conversation.
   • Congratulations! You’ve won first prize for being the least interesting person I know.
   • You really have mastered the ability to put yourself at the center of the universe.
   • I must say, your incessant need for attention is breathtaking.
   • I’m amazed by your ability to turn any situation into a truly astounding mess.
   • Please enlighten me with your infinite wisdom.
   • I feel really sorry for you.
   • Sounds like you have a few things to work through in your own room.
   • Go squat in a cactus patch.
   • Have the day you deserve.
   • I invite you to leave me alone.

Section 5 of 7:

Classy Ways to Tell Someone Off in an Email

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1. 
   Communicate your dissatisfaction with a carefully worded email. Thompson explains, “It is best to practice respect and empathy when handling conflict with anyone.” This is especially true when you’re communicating by email, when it’s easy to misunderstand someone’s meaning. Try one of these classy ways to tell someone off in an email:

   • As per my last email, I’m not available for the rest of the week.
   • Should you need further clarification, please don’t hesitate to contact me.
   • Awaiting your reply.
   • Just following up on my email below. Let me know if I should talk to someone else on this.
   • Thanks in advance for your timely response.
   • Going forward, I’d prefer that you run this by someone else before emailing me.
   • Please let me know if I misunderstood your last email.
   • As we discussed this morning, I’m no longer available for any discussions about this subject.
   • Not sure if you got my email about this since I haven’t heard from you.
   • I’m a little confused by your question. I thought we already covered that information.
   • Clearly, one of us has made a mistake and wasted the other person’s valuable time.
   • I’m just cc’ing my boss on this to make sure everyone’s on the same page.
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Section 6 of 7:

Classy Ways to Tell Someone Off in Text

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1. 
   Tell them to get off your back with a quick text. Sometimes, you need to shoot off a quick text to tell someone off. That doesn’t mean you can’t show some class. However, avoid using any emojis other than the basic thumbs up 👍or okay 👌 or the other person might not feel the full heat of your ire. Here’s a list of short and sweet messages to get them to leave you the heck alone in style:

   • Whatever.
   • Nevermind.
   • Sure
   • Of course.
   • No worries
   • So…
   • Cool.
   • yup
   • IDK
   • Ha.
   • Fine.
   • K.

Section 7 of 7:

Dealing with Conflicts in a Healthy Way

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1. 
   1
   Stay calm and take a minute to avoid acting in anger. Professional life coach Amber Rosenberg suggests, “Give it a day or two and see. Check in with yourself. See how you're feeling…If it still bothers you, it's a sign that your relationship will be served well by addressing it.” Above all, try to control your temper and think before you speak.

   • Staying calm helps you manage your own stress levels, take control of your behavior, and pay attention to what you’re really feeling.
   • Taking a break and stepping away can give you a little perspective on your own feelings and help you see the other person’s point of view.
   • Be aware of your nonverbal communication when working to resolve a conflict. Rolling your eyes or making an annoyed face can seem dismissive or confrontational.
2. 
   2
   Define and communicate the most important parts of the conflict. “I'm not saying you bring up every little thing that bothers you, because there's going to probably be many, but you pick and choose what's most important to you,” advises Rosenberg. Try to pinpoint where the real problem is and then communicate it to the other person in a clear, specific, and nonthreatening way.

   • Marriage and family therapist Jessica George suggests, “Tell them how you feel, but avoid pointing your fingers at them.”
   • She adds, “Use ‘I’ statements, but be sure to let them know that this will not be tolerated. This is where you can assert very strong boundaries.”
3. 
   3
   Listen to the other person and try to understand what they say. George explains that it’s important for each person to take a turn speaking while the other person focuses on absorbing what they’re saying. Then, the listener repeats back what the speaker said. This slows the conversation down, which makes it easier to work toward a resolution.

   • Ask the other person to tell you what they think the problem is. Encourage them to be as open and honest as possible.
   • Clearly communicate your willingness to solve the issue so they’re comfortable letting you know what’s really bothering them.
   • When they speak, make sure you’re using active listening skills to really hear and understand what they’re saying.
4. 
   4
   Take steps to avoid conflict in the future. It may not be possible to completely avoid conflict in your relationships, but you can take steps to minimize the fallout. According to Rosenberg, “[Conflict is] really a natural part of relationships, and it will serve you and the other person in the relationship if you address it head-on.”

   • Licensed professional counselor William Schroeder suggests, “Try to engage someone and just set a framework for what you’d like to change: When X happened, I felt Y, and I wanted Z.”
   • He adds that you should always start from a place of empathy and compassion. You may not be able to change their mind, but empathy goes a long way to resolving conflict.
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