What Is the Meaning of an ‘Irish Exit’? Plus, Why It’s Actually Not as Rude as You Might Think
And where does the name of this goodbye come from, anyway?
Have you ever left a party or large gathering abruptly, without telling anybody that you were leaving? Be honest–we've all likely been guilty of doing it at least once. If you're nodding your head up and down, then you've successfully completed an Irish exit.
There are plenty of ways to leave a get-together. Some people need to go around and say their goodbyes to each and every individual they know (or previously met that evening), while others would rather avoid all of the attention. And when you're the one throwing the party, you might have a preference one way or another about how your guests leave, or what the interactions are like before friends head out.
We’re covering all your burning questions, including what "Irish exit" means, where it originated, what it means when people Irish exit and if an Irish goodbye is actually rude.
What Is an Irish Exit?
An Irish exit—also known as an Irish goodbye—is when you leave a party without telling anybody that you're leaving. It's quite a sneaky little action.
Whether the Irish exit-er didn’t want to deal with making the rounds to say goodbye, didn't want to bother anyone, simply forgot, were ready to go home and put on their pajamas or were upset with someone—there are countless reasons that people Irish exit.
Why Is It Called an Irish Exit?
What exactly makes an Irish exit Irish, anyway? There are some different theories regarding the origins and why it's called an Irish exit. According to Rice University's database of neologisms, the Irish exit refers to someone leaving a party early in an attempt to avoid exposing how drunk they really are.
Basically, it seems like it's poking fun at the stereotype that the Irish tend to drink a lot. However, some folks of Irish descent have confirmed this to be true.
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However, the origins date back further than you may think. In an interview with Quartz, linguist Anatoly Liberman explained that the original Irish exit was actually called the "French leave," a term coined by the English to poke fun at French-culture stereotypes.
Obviously, the French didn't take too kindly to this jab and made up their own version, which was essentially a reverse Uno card poking fun at the English. Over time, different countries cultivated their own versions of the original expression, to make fun of other countries. It's likely that "Irish exit" came about in the same way.
What Is Meant By an Irish Goodbye?
Along the same lines, you may have heard the term, "Irish goodbye" being thrown around. An Irish goodbye is another term that is completely synonymous with an Irish exit. The Irish goodbye meaning is still leaving a party early without properly saying goodbye to anyone.
Here are some other phrases that uphold similar definitions to Irish exit and Irish goodbye:
Ghosting
French leave
Dutch leave
Standing someone up
The quick dip
Take a powder
Irish Exit Examples
Why would someone opt to Irish exit instead of making the rounds to say goodbye? Put yourself in the perpetrators' shoes for a second! Here are some scenarios where someone might Irish exit:
1. You went to a gathering where you don't know anybody, aside from the host that you haven't seen all night. After quite a bit of time trying to make the best of it, you decide to sneak out the back door.
2. As some speculate, you are feeling a bit too intoxicated and don't want other people to know. Maybe, you're at a work party—who knows? But, it's time to go!
3. It's been a long day, and you dragged yourself to this party you were committed to, even though you know you didn't have the social battery to attend it. You decide to sneak out, go home and head to bed.
4. You are at a very large gathering and there are a lot of people to say goodbye to. You don't want anybody to convince you to try to stay.
5. You just don't like to be the center of attention, and goodbyes tend to do that. So, you slip out quickly and sneakily.
Any instance where you sneak out the back door or make a hasty escape without saying goodbye – despite the reason – poses as an example of an Irish exit.
Related: 2023's Most Irish Cities—Is Yours on the List?
Is an Irish Exit Rude?
The ultimate, burning question: is an Irish exit rude? It's been heavily disputed. Some say it's the superior way to leave a party, while others say it's cold and equivalent to ghosting somebody.
As with many situations, it truly depends on the circumstance at hand. If you leave an intimate gathering, an important event like a wedding, or a night out when you were supposed to give someone a ride home—then yes, Irish exiting would likely be considered rude.
However, if you are at a large gathering, pulling an Irish exit is sometimes the very best way to head out. Sometimes, you just want to leave peacefully without making too much of a disruption, or situations can be awkward. If the hosts have seemed overwhelmed or busy with other people interrupting their conversations in order to say goodbye, it might be the most polite move to exit the gathering quietly and shoot them a message afterward to thank them for throwing a great event.
Feel it out. If you feel slightly guilty about pulling an Irish exit and know that it would likely upset someone you care about, it may be best to reconsider.
Next, What Does ‘FWIW’ Mean, Exactly? Plus, How *Not* To Use the Term
