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20 Magical Phrases To Say When You Pass Someone In The Hallway At Work

To Eliminate Awkward Silence, And Avoid Long Conversations

The Office Hallway Is Where CEO’s Are Made.

When you’re passing someone in the hallway at work, it can be awkward. Silence is never good. You always want to acknowledge the other person, otherwise you may seem to be aloof.

A perception of aloofness can turn into ‘He/She is difficult to work with.’

Then the office politics begin. And then you lose that big promotion.

It’s a downward spiral.

So, below are a few simple phrases to use when passing colleagues in the hallways at work.

These phrases are designed to be short. And they are designed to get short responses from the people you pass.

And allow you to get on with your rest of your career.

Here they are — Let me know if you have others:

1. “Back to reality, huh?” — Use this on Mondays, accompanied with with a slight smile, and roll of the eyes.
2. “Hump day!” — This is made for Wednesdays, obviously. Its a basic recognition that you both have made it halfway through the work week.
3. “TGIF!”- Thank God It’s Friday — This is usually met with an enthusiastic ‘Yes!” from the receiver.
4. “Tight Squeeze!” — Perfect for a narrow hallway. Saying something while really saying nothing.
5. “Big game tonight!”- For sports fans expecting a big game tonight.
6. “Great game last night!” -For sports fans who saw a big game last night.
7. “Too short, too short”- When the person passing you in the hallway asks ‘how was your weekend?’
8. “Coffee time!” -When you’re getting a coffee. Simple and to the point.
9. “Lunch time!”- When you’re going for lunch. See #8.
10. “Another Meeting” — Whenever you’re going to a meeting — Use it with an eye roll. Most people don’t like meetings, so this is a very relatable comment.
11. “Long Weekend!” -Use it before a long weekend. Who doesn’t like a long weekend?
12. “Short Week!” -A great comment after a long weekend — short work weeks are the best.
13. “Barbecue weather!”- For use on a sunny summer day, because it shows you have a life outside work. Nobody needs to know the truth.
14. “It’s freezing out there!” — To be used on a cold winter day, to show that it’s better to be ‘in here’ than ‘out there’. Small consolation.
15. “Mornin” — Drop the ‘g’ from the end, and this is a folksy ‘good morning’.
16. “Evenin” — Drop the ‘g’ from the end, and this is a folksy ‘good evening’
17. “Still here?” — To be used if the other person seems to be working later than normal. It makes them feel like they are being acknowledged as a hard worker because they’re working after hours.
18. “Dinner Time!” -Use this when you’re heading home for the day. Nobody wants to stop someone who’s on his way to eat dinner.
19. “Living The Dream?” — This comment is meant to be funny. Well, of course they aren’t living the dream, and neither are you, because you both work there.
20. “Are we having fun yet?” — Another comment to make you seem relatable. Of course the other person isn’t having fun, and neither are you, because you both work there.

Hallway passings don’t have to be as awkward and scary as they seem. Study these phrases. Choose the one that’s right for you.

And remember, it’s critical to use the appropriate one at the appropriate time. Don’t start saying ‘Hump Day’ on Tuesday, for example.

You’re career is hanging in the balance.

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