Gone are the days when phone calls were the only means of getting to know someone you liked outside of a date. Now, keeping someone on the line is a feat of conversational dexterity.
Unfortunately, not everyone possesses the gift of gab, and when a conversation goes stale, they may be left in the dark as to what they should do.
What does it mean when someone says that they’ll call you back?
At this point in time, phone calls are pretty much a thing of the past. When it comes to socializing and getting to know people, there are so many other – more convenient – methods of communicating, whether it is over WhatsApp or Instagram.
Of course, that is not to say that people do not make phone calls anymore. Some people actually prefer to get to know others over long voice calls. Unfortunately, sometimes those calls do not go on for as long as you may have wanted.
When someone tells you that they will call you back and ends the call abruptly, you may wonder what their true intentions are. Are they really going to call you back, or was this just a way for them to get out of speaking to you? There are a handful of possibilities – they may not want to speak to you or need to deal with something urgent. Of course, you should also consider the possibility that they may be telling the truth.
How long should you wait after someone gives you their number? Find out here.
1. It could mean that they don’t want to talk.
Maintaining a conversation can be tricky, especially over the phone. Unfortunately, we live in an age where phone calls are almost strictly reserved for business, whether it be setting up a meeting with a client or canceling a membership. The fact of the matter is that most people simply do not know how to keep a conversation going over the phone.
This lack of conversational skills results in awkward phone calls where no one really knows what to say. The conversation may stop and start intermittently, carrying on for an uncomfortable amount of time until one person eventually calls it quits.
Of course, no one wants to be rude, even the people you meet on Tinder. During the early stages of a relationship, most people are reluctant to share their true feelings – “I’ll call you back later” could be a euphemism for “I don’t want to talk to you anymore.”
Unfortunately, this particular scenario is not solely restricted to awkward phone calls. If your conversational skills are not any better over text, the person on the other end of the chat may try to get out of speaking to you by saying that they will talk to you later.
If you have found yourself in this particular situation before, you may be ready to throw in the towel. But there is a bright side to all of this. Your conversational skills can easily be improved with the knowledge of a few handy openers and ice-breakers.
For now, though, the best thing you can do is reach out to them again, this time with a better strategy. If they still seem reluctant to talk to you, give them some space for a few days, then reach out again. If they really do not seem interested in you, do not be afraid to call it quits and move on.
2. It could mean that they have something to do.
Of course, not everyone’s conversational skills are lacking. Some people are born with the gift of gab and are able to keep others engaged with very little effort. But even these people are not immune to the dreaded “I’ll call you back” line.
There are times when things may seem to be going well, only for the person you are speaking to abruptly end the call with little more than a goodbye.
Your mind may immediately begin to race with possibilities – are they not interested in you? Did someone tell them something bad about you? This lack of closure can lead to insecurity, especially if you do not hear back from them for a while. However, the reality is likely far more mundane.
That is the key word – reality. Unfortunately, real life has a way of interfering with our fun. Sometimes, things just get in the way, and there is nothing you can do but react and adapt.
This is likely the case for the person you have been speaking to. It is highly likely that something came up on their end that they are forced to deal with, whether it be a medical emergency or an overdue assignment that they had been putting off for a long time.
The fault – therefore – is not with you, nor is it with anybody else for that matter. Your conversational skills have nothing to do with their sudden departure, but you should still be sure to check up with them to make sure that everything is alright. A simple text asking if they are okay should do the trick.
3. It could mean that they will indeed call you back.
Not everyone is incapable of expressing their true feelings, and not everyone has a million things to deal with before they can get back to you. Sometimes, people just want to take a break from speaking.
And that is okay. There is nothing wrong with long phone calls, but they take a lot of energy to maintain. When it is already past midnight, most people do not want to pass up on the chance to get what little sleep they can before they need to be up and ready again.
If you find yourself chatting to someone over the phone for hours on end, you should not be surprised if they want to take a break every once in a while. The same rules apply here: if you have not heard back from them for a long time, send them a message asking if they are okay. The chances are that if they are truly interested in speaking to you, they will tell you the truth.
Here is how to smoothly ask for someone’s phone number.
How should you respond when someone doesn’t call you back?
As we have already mentioned, maintaining a conversation over the phone is tough, and in an effort to avoid any awkwardness, most people will provide a comforting euphemism to get out of speaking to someone.
Unfortunately, the subtext can be lost on some individuals. These people may wait anxiously for a phone call that will simply never come. They may even reach out to see if everything is okay. When they get an answer that they do not want, they may be confused as to how to respond.
If you find yourself in this particular situation, there are a few things you can do to respond to someone who has given you the ghost.
Be calm.
The most important thing for you to do is to remain calm. Do not lash out at someone for not calling you back. The chances are that they actually do want to talk to you and simply got caught up in work or other responsibilities. Even if they seem cold and avoidant, do not respond with heat and aggressiveness. Compose yourself before reaching out.
Find out if you should call a girl if she doesn’t call you first.
Ask them if they are okay.
Instead of scolding someone for not calling you back, you would do better to ask them if they are okay. This will show them that you are not only interested in what they can provide for you but are actually concerned for their well-being.
Don’t sweat it.
If, after reaching out, you find yourself getting nowhere, it is okay to simply move on. The chances are that if someone is not willing to talk to you, they will not care if you leave without another word. Know when to give up and when to keep trying.
Final Thoughts
There you have it – a comprehensive explanation for what it means when someone says that they will call you back. As you can see, dealing with this particular situation is not as scary as it may have seemed before. Likewise, there is usually a perfectly logical, reasonable explanation for someone else’s behavior – hopefully, that point is clear.
If you find yourself in need of more dating tips and advice, be sure to check out the Online Dating Success Guide, which is packed full of information that can be used to improve your chances of finding love on sites like Tinder.
We also offer comprehensive dating profile writing services, optimizing your online presence and attracting more people than ever before. Lastly, if you need any more help with your conversational skills, we also offer text message feedback which can give you the edge you need when getting to know someone online.