Don’t you just hate that awkward moment when the conversation starts to fizzle out and you don’t know what to say? Do you want to know what to say when you don’t know what to text back?
It can be frustrating when you don’t know what to say, especially if you really like the person and want to keep their attention on you. When it’s your crush or someone you’re dating, it can make or break your connection and mean the difference between starting a relationship or moving on to someone else.
Sometimes when you don’t know what to text back, it’s best to let the conversation end naturally and not force it. You can always start another conversation down the line if there’s no pressure, like with a friend or lover.
In the post, we’ll share 28 examples of what to say when you don’t know what to text back and the best ways to use them:
What to say when you don’t know what to text back: 8 ways to end the conversation naturally and gracefully
Every conversation has to come to an end at some point, and when it has run its course, it’s better to let go of it than to try to force something that just isn’t there.
This is when it becomes really awkward, and the person you’re texting can become turned off or annoyed by your pushing to keep it going. Similarly, you may just not be in the mood, and if you try to keep it going, you may end up saying something you regret.
Try your best to end it naturally and gracefully. An abrupt end can be misconstrued as disrespect or a lack of interest.
These are some examples of what to say when you don’t know what to text back when the conversation needs to end naturally and gracefully:
01“It’s been a long day and I’m about to pass out, so I’m saying goodnight now in case I fall asleep before I get the chance to.”
This is good to use when you have a busy or demanding schedule that leaves you exhausted at the end of the day. It says the only reason you are leaving the conversation is because you’re tired, not because you’re bored.
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02“I’ve got a ton of work to catch up on. I had better get to it.”
This is another good message to use when you are busy and have lots to do. It says you have made time for the conversation, but you still have prior obligations that you must attend to.
03“About to eat some dinner. Catch you later.”
Many people don’t like to text while eating because their phones will end up getting greasy or dirty. This is a good message to send because it brings the current conversation to an end, but doesn’t rule out further conversations with the other person.
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04“I’m heading out right now, but I’d love to finish this conversation later.”
It is good to use this when you have other plans to meet up with friends or run an errand. It means you will not be able to text back in a reasonable amount of time, so you want to end things here for now.
05“Things are getting crazy at work. I need to put out some fires.”
This is good to use when you’re at work and things start to get hectic. You’re expected to do your job while you’re at work, so the person you’re texting can’t feel offended by that.
06“I can’t wait to see you tomorrow.”
Use this when you have had a great conversation and have planned a meet-up. After this point, the conversation will begin to die down, so sending this message says you have enjoyed the conversation and are excited about catching up in person.
07“I’m about to step into a meeting/class. Can I call/text you later?”
It is good to use this when you don’t want to just disappear from the conversation. It tells the person you’ll be doing something that requires your full attention, but you’d love to talk again soon.
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08“It was so nice to hear from you.”
Use this when the conversation has reached the final leg and you want to end on a good note. It says you had a good time talking to him/her, and wouldn’t mind speaking again. It can also mean you haven’t talked to the person in a while and appreciated him/her reaching out because it shows interest.
What to say when you don’t know what to text back: 10 texts for your crush when the conversation is dying down and you want to revive it
When you’re talking to a crush or someone you’re interested in, you’ll feel a range of emotions, from nervousness to excitement. You may even feel that warm feeling in your chest and butterflies in your stomach.
These are all great feelings, and once you find someone that makes you feel that way even through text, you’ll never want the conversation to end. When you notice it dying down, you’ll want to revive it by any means necessary to keep his/her attention.
There are many ways you can revive a conversation you think is dying down. Here are some examples of what to say when you don’t know what to text back:
09“I sent you a funny video on TikTok. Check it out.”
A great trick you can use to keep a conversation going is by starting one on a different platform/app. So, if your conversation in the Instagram DMs is dying, sending a TikTok will prompt your crush to engage in another discussion about what you sent. It can even result in sending videos back and forth continuously so you always have something to comment on or talk about.
Photo by Kaspars Grinvalds on shutterstock
10“Look at this meme my mom/dad just sent me.”
Memes are a great source of entertainment, and are an excellent way to breathe life into a dying conversation. Sending a message like this makes it seem more casual because you weren’t the one that sought out the meme. It also says you don’t mind sharing stuff your close relative sends because you think of the crush very highly.
11“Hey, did you see this viral vid? It’s crazy!”
It won’t take you more than a few minutes to find something that went viral on the internet that day. These are usually sources of mass discussion and will prompt a conversation on the topic.
12“Look at what I’m having for dinner [insert picture of food]”
Sending a picture of your plate is a great way to make your crush feel closer to you through text. It’s a great way to get the conversation going as well because this can end up being the start of a thing you do, i.e. send each other status updates, which can create or strengthen a bond.
13“You’d love this view. It’s amazing [insert picture of view/surroundings]”
This is a good example of what to say when you don’t know what to text back because it says you are thinking of him/her. It’s also a great opportunity to share more about what you’re currently doing.
Photo by Sven Hansche on shutterstock
14“I want to keep talking to you. Can we meet up for some drinks?”
Use the end of the conversation to invite your crush out on a date. If he/she liked the conversation, he/she will jump at the chance to talk to you face-to-face.
15“Do you watch [insert name of series]? I’m catching up on the latest episodes and I think you’d enjoy it. It’s about [give description]”
This is good to use because it will either help you discover something you have in common or lead to a conversation about different series and movies.
16“Check out this playlist I just made. I hope you like it.”
Music is a great way to connect with others, and making a playlist is a classic way to tell someone you like them. When he/she is done listening, you can discuss the song list and spark a brand-new conversation.
Photo by emasali stock on shutterstock
17“I just heard the funniest joke, [insert joke]”
Making your crush laugh is a great way to cement your spot and boost your points. When used in a conversation, it can become an inside joke or another way for you to connect.
18“Ugh, I just saw a bug. I hate those things. Are you as squeamish as me?”
A lot of people hate bugs, so this is something you can connect with. People love to talk about how much they hate bugs.
What to say when you don’t know what to text back: 10 texts to your crush to keep the great conversation flowing
It’s good to have a game plan when talking to your crush to keep the conversation flowing. This way, you can anticipate the conversation dying and make moves to prevent it from getting to that point.
This ensures it doesn’t feel forced and that you both have a great time talking to each other. Here are some examples of what to say when you don’t know what to text back to keep the conversation from losing steam.
19“So, what did you do today?”
This is a simple question, but if your crush is interested, you will get a detailed response you can build on. Plus, you’re likely to get asked the question back, so don’t give a dry response, or else this strategy will be counterproductive.
20“I’m having so much fun chatting with you. Can I call you?”
This is good to use when the discussions you are having over text would be better had if you could speak in real-time. This is also a great way to gauge his/her tone, so you know what to say or what to not say.
Photo by Drazen Zigic on shutterstock
21“Did anything interesting happen today?”
The difference between asking what your crush did and if anything interesting happened is the answer will tell you about what he/she likes or values. So, if an interesting thing was watching a football match or designing a website, you’ll know you can use the knowledge of these hobbies or likes later.
22“I feel like I could talk to you all day.”
It is good to use this when you want to find out how your crush feels about talking to you. If you receive a similar response, it will be the green light to keep pursuing this person. But if the response is a bit iffy or negative, then you know it’s best to end the conversation and stop wasting your time.
23“If you had to make a choice between invisibility, super strength and flight, which superpower would you choose?”
This is a random question you can use as an icebreaker or to see how your crush thinks. When he/she chooses a superpower, you can follow up by asking why he/she made that choice and give your detailed input or selection.
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24“I’m so glad we met. You really get me.”
It is good to use this when you find yourself falling for your crush and you believe a lot of the conversations have been promising. This statement can lead to your crush talking about how he/she feels about you, which can blossom into moving on to the next step, e.g. a real date
25“Tell me something about you that not a lot of people know.”
This is a good example of what to say when you don’t know what to text back because it gives you a chance to know your crush better. The answer you get could tell you that your crush trusts you with embarrassing details, which means he/she really likes you.
26“What do you do for fun outside of being amazing?”
This is a flirty message you can send when you want to know more about your crush and his/her hobbies. It is good to use because it will make it clear to your crush that you’re interested in him/her romantically and can lead to even more flirting.
27“Do you have any plans for the weekend?”
This is a good text to send when you want to know what your crush will be up to. If he/she says “nothing”, use the opportunity to ask him/her on a date. If there are already plans, do not invite yourself out because it can make you seem desperate.
Photo by PPstudio on shutterstock
28“By the way, did you ever [refer to plan or discussion from the last conversation]”
This is a good way to show you have been paying attention to what your crush has said, and shows interest in what he/she does.
Conclusion
The last thing you need to be worried about when texting someone, especially a crush, is what to say when you don’t know what to text back. Be more focused on being yourself and showing how great you are.
And remember, if the conversation has lost its steam, don’t be afraid to call it a day and try again tomorrow. If the person really likes you, this shouldn’t be a problem.
