Cliché Breakup Excuses and What They Really Mean

If there's one thing worse than the process of being broken up with, it's being dumped with a overused cliché.

Not only is your now-ex calling off your relationship, they can't even think up an original and personal reason for why they don't see this romance working out. Talk about adding insult to injury.

As we all know, clichés are often just used as easy stand-ins for an original thought. And far as played out breakup phrases go, they're usually employed when your ex knows exactly why they're ending the relationship, they just don't want to hurt you by telling you the full truth.

Thankfully, we're here to translate. Keep scrolling for cliché breakup excuses and what they really mean.

1. "It's not you, it's me."

Translation: It's definitely you, but I don't want to go into detail about all the things you've done wrong and draw this conversation out further, so I'm just going to take the blame and hope things end quickly.

(The Vampire Diaries via The CW)

 

2. "I just need some time to work on myself."

Translation: I can't spend as much time doing things I want to do while we're dating—aka hanging out with my friends and playing Fortnite—so I need us to breakup so I can go back to spending hours on my couch watching crappy action movies and eating chips.

 

3. "I need some space."

Translation: You're suffocating me. I can't respond to all your text messages within 30 seconds and spend every waking moment with you. I like you, but you're too demanding of my time and things just aren't going to work out.

 

4."I don't think I'm ready for a relationship."

Translation: I didn't think through exactly what it would mean to be in a relationship, and now that I've experienced how much time and effort it takes to date someone, I want out.

(Stranger Things via Netflix)

 

5. "I love you, I'm just not in love with you."

Translation: You're cool and I like spending time with you, but I already know this isn't going to be a long-term thing, so I don't want to waste my time.

 

6. "You deserve better than me."

Translation: I'm not really sure why, but I'm not feeling this anymore. I know it's terrible to break up for no reason, so I'm just going to claim it's because I'm not the right person for you.

 

7. "I think we're better off as friends."

Translation: I want to keep hanging out and using you for emotional support—at least until I find someone new to date and then our friendship will just be awkward so I'll end it.

(Grey's Anatomy via ABC)

 

8. "If you love something let it go, and if it returns it was meant to be."

Translation: I heard this somewhere once and it sounds like a good way to try and convince you that this is for the best. Also, I might change my mind and I want to keep this door open so if I do I can come back and claim that it's just proof of how much I love you.

 

9. "I think we should see other people."

Translation: I've already got my eye on someone new, and I don't want you to freak out when we make it official in a couple weeks.

 

10. "You're too good for me."

Translation: The one cliché breakup excuse that actually says what it means. If someone tells you you're too good for them, believe them. They're essentially saying, "I know I'll never meet your standards, so you should find someone who's willing to put in the effort you're looking for because it will never be me."

 

Dealing with the aftermath of a tough split? Click HERE for our tips on how to take care of yourself after a breakup.