PART 4: Now, when we meet people, and we have a really, really good conversation, the next step is to ensure further contact. But we don't just want to say, "What's your number? I would like to talk again." Although, I quite like the direct approach. There are some other ways of doing this. 

16. I'd love to carry this on at a later date/time.

This is saying, "I would like to continue this conversation". So you're sort of stopping them there, saying pause, but let's continue this later on.

17. I feel like we've got so much more to talk about.

This is good one to use if you can see that a conversation is coming to an end, maybe it's like a break in a conference, and you know that the next lecture is starting, but you still want to make sure you remain in contact with this person. This is a really nice one because it's sort of passing the baton. It's passing the responsibility over to the other person. And it gives them the opportunity to say, "well, let's stay in touch. Let's exchange contact details." It's good to use if you don't know if they want to stay in touch, if you're kind of testing the water. If they say yeah, let's stay in touch, brilliant. If they don't, well there we are. At least we know.

18. We should discuss this over lunch.

This one is used to suggest that something be discussed over a consumable, a food or a beverage. For example:

• We should discuss this over lunch. 
• We should chat over coffee.
• We should talk over dinner.

If you think about it, using the word 'over’ is quite appropriate because normally, two people having a meeting at dinner, we are speaking over the top of the food. The conversation flows over the food or drink.

19. We should do this again.

This is another very simple, very casual one which implies we should see each other again.

20. Here's my email/number. Drop me a line, and we'll sort something out.

This is a great one if you want to be very direct and give your contact details. 'To drop someone a line' is to write a brief message. We also say, 'drop me a text' or 'drop me a WhatsApp'. And 'to sort something' out is to organise something—we’ll arrange another meeting.

PART 5: And now on to the last set of phrases. And for me, the hardest part of any conversation is leaving the conversation. I’m terrible at parties. I end up talking to one person intensely for the whole event, and then it comes to the end, and I think, “Ugh, I have not met many people here.” It's just so awkward, isn't it?

21. Oh, I'm a bit pressed for time.

This is a great one if you don't have much time. This is a nice way of saying, "I don't have any time; I need to go."

22. Right, I need to make a move.

In the UK, we always sort of clap our hands or if we’re sitting down, we slap our thighs and say, “Right, I’ve got to be going.” 'To make a move' is to begin to leave or just to leave. I'm going to make a move—I'm going to leave. It's just a nicer way of saying it because we're beating around the bush; we're avoiding the topic. I don't wanna say I'm leaving, so I'm going to say I'm making a move.

23. I'm going to have to get going. / I need to get going.

This is a very similar one to number 22. Again, this is to begin to leave. But by saying 'I have to', it's implying that you don't want to; I just have to. I’m obliged to leave. It's not my choice; I need to.

24. I don't want to hog you, so I'm going to go over here.

Now this is a really nice one; it’s interesting, but ever so slightly manipulative but I learnt it from someone that I really respect, an older woman in my village. I always really enjoy talking to her at parties in our village. But, I probably enjoy speaking to her more than she enjoys speaking with me. And once, she said this wonderful phrase when she wanted to leave our conversation, but she did it in such a nice way.

'To hog something' is to take or use something good all for yourself so that other people can't have it. And she was saying, I don't want to keep you all to myself, so I'm going to make sure other people can talk to you too. And it's implying that whoever you're talking to is so great that they need to talk to lots of people; lots of people can benefit from talking to them. It wouldn't be right to deny others the chance of talking to this person. I thought it was really interesting, kind of like reverse psychology.

25. I've already taken so much of your time.

This is a lovely way of saying, “you know, I don't want to leave, but I’ve wasted your time, so I’m going to go because it’s fair on you.”