Is there a word for arranged 1st date interruption?

August 22, 2005 10:24 AM

Is there a word for arranging to have a friend call you shortly after a first date starts?
posted by dmo to Writing & Language (25 answers total)

I'd think it depends on the reason for the arranged call. If safety is a concern, I've heard of it referred to as a safe call.
posted by justonegirl at 10:30 AM on August 22, 2005

I think there might have been a "Seinfeld" episode about this?
posted by ZenMasterThis at 10:37 AM on August 22, 2005

I've heard it called The Buddy Call. I used TBC extensively when I first started dating.
posted by Corky at 10:43 AM on August 22, 2005

My friends used to call it a "Lifeline", a la Who Wants to be a Millionaire.....
posted by Emperor Yamamoto's Eggs at 10:51 AM on August 22, 2005

I think there might have been a "Seinfeld" episode about this?

I've never seen it on Seinfeld, but Frasier (and his date) used this tactic.
posted by SeizeTheDay at 10:55 AM on August 22, 2005

My friends and I call it "Rescue".
posted by FlamingBore at 11:00 AM on August 22, 2005

In the BDSM community, we use the term "safe call." If you're meeting a new potential partner for the first time, you call when you first arrive at the meeting location and you call again when you're about to leave (whether that's an hour later or the next morning or what have you). As the name implies, this is done for safety reasons.

On the other hand, if the call is supposed to be an opportunity for you to bail from the date if it turns out to suck - Into phone: "Oh no. That's terrible. Well, I'll be right there." To Date: "I'm so sorry, but I've really got to go. My friend is..." etc. - then I don't know what it's called.
posted by Clay201 at 11:14 AM on August 22, 2005

When I've been asked to make the call, it's been an "out."
posted by robocop is bleeding at 11:14 AM on August 22, 2005

I always call it a "rescue call."
posted by awesomebrad at 11:28 AM on August 22, 2005

I call 'em 'contingency calls'.
posted by mischief at 12:16 PM on August 22, 2005

I believe that is called the "Johnny Fairplay message".
posted by Mack Twain at 12:27 PM on August 22, 2005

The "bail-out."
posted by punkbitch at 12:59 PM on August 22, 2005

Lifeline

(Of course I can't help but think this could fit under the "wingman" umbrella somehow.)
posted by UncleHornHead at 2:00 PM on August 22, 2005

Don't know about your friend, but if you have Cingular or Virgin Mobile, you can actually program your phone to make the call. Cingular calls it "Escape-a-date", Virgin Mobile calls it Rescue Ring.
posted by tuxster at 2:09 PM on August 22, 2005

Why not just say "This isn't working for me. I'm leaving."?

The call is incredibly transparent, and sends a nice clear message... "I am willing to lie to you about things that bother me."
posted by mosch at 2:55 PM on August 22, 2005

Oh, and the word I'd use is "an obvious and transparent lie, designed to offend the intelligence of the other party."

It's not very catchy, but it's pretty accurate.
posted by mosch at 2:56 PM on August 22, 2005

With the safe call, your friends actually get to check that you're alright.

You can still decide whether or not to be truthful with the person - if they're a bit weird, an excuse to leave might be a good idea.
posted by lunkfish at 3:10 PM on August 22, 2005

second what mosch has to say...
posted by whatitis at 3:15 PM on August 22, 2005

"Insurance"
posted by bright cold day at 3:35 PM on August 22, 2005

For the millionth time, can people please keep their fucking moral judgments out of AskMeFi? That's not what this is for. Thank you.
posted by languagehat at 4:42 PM on August 22, 2005

My friends always call it a rescue, also.
posted by desuetude at 6:21 PM on August 22, 2005

Response by poster: Followup: I'm an English teacher in Brazil and tonight's lesson was about dating. Since current English has words like "booty call," "cock block," etc., I figured there might be a slang term for this kind of call. Thanks for all the answers!
posted by dmo at 7:31 PM on August 22, 2005

No wonder the rest of the world thinks we're maniacs. You're out there teaching them this!

I'm suddently very interested to know what the rest of your lesson plan consists of.
posted by FlamingBore at 7:43 PM on August 22, 2005

For the millionth time, can people please keep their fucking moral judgments out of AskMeFi? That's not what this is for.

You're right, my first post is unnecessary exposition, the second one is far more appropriate.
posted by mosch at 7:58 PM on August 22, 2005

I've never heard it called an "obvious and transparent lie, designed to offend the intelligence of the other party" call. That's quite a mouthful when you're asking your buddy to make one for you. I expect your skills do not lie in coining catchy new phrases, mosch.
posted by kindall at 9:59 PM on August 22, 2005