English Language Learners Stack Exchange is a question and answer site for speakers of other languages learning English. It only takes a minute to sign up.
Sign up to join this community
Is there an expression/word for to get someone to stop talking by lying to them or an excuse or otherwise cunning ways so that you end the conversation with them? As in the contexts below,
John starts talking to Mary, and begs for money; but Mary [requested expression] him, telling him that she's donated all of her money to a charity.
Sarah starts a conversation with Adam, but Adam doesn't like her too much, so he [requested expression] her by talking in the shortest way possible.
Cut the conversation short
He 'cut the conversation short' or 'brought it to a close' or 'concluded it swiftly' or 'deftly ended it' - by lying to her.
"Dismissed" should work fine if that's the point your trying to convey.
