Fake an illness.
This excuse works equally well in the days/hours leading up to a date you’re not sure you want to go on, and once a bad date is in progress. Food poisoning and/or the stomach flu are the most reliable excuses. No guy in his right mind is going to question whether or not your frequent trips to the restroom are for real. A killer migraine is also an easy out, while faking a sore throat and cough really only works if you’re a decent actress.

Fake an emergency.
The savvy single gal is like a Boy Scout—always prepared. Which means that before any date you’re not totally psyched about, you should enlist the help of your friends by setting up at least one, if not two, check in calls throughout the night. One should be about thirty minutes into the date (to make sure things are off to a good start), and another should follow about 45 minutes later (to ensure things haven’t taken a surprising turn for the worse). Set up code words for whether the date is good or bad (Good date: “Congratulations! I knew you’d pass the bar.” Bad date: “She what? Is she okay? What hospital?”) If things are going well, your date will never know about The Friendship Pact. And if it’s failing miserably, his feelings won’t be hurt when you excuse yourself to rush to your mother’s/sister’s/best friend’s side at the hospital after her car accident/rollerblading spill/salsa dancing catastrophe.