First Meeting Starters
‘Excuse me, sir/ma’am? You dropped your purse/wallet back there, here you go.’ ‘Good morning, please would you sign my petition about — ?’ ‘Pardon me, but have you seen this cat/dog? They got out yesterday and I’ve been looking everywhere!’ ‘Hello! Have you a moment to talk about —-?’ ‘Excuse me? Do you have the time, please?’ ‘Hello, do you — do you know the way to — ?’ ‘I– I’m so sorry to intrude, but I couldn’t help but overhear your conversation about —’ ‘Yiiiikes, if that’s happening, you definitely need to make an appointment with the doctor!’ ‘Do you mind? Can you not talk about…such things… in public?’ ‘Um, I’m so sorry about your breakup. I couldn’t help but overhear….’ ‘Hey, I don’t know you but I couldn’t just stay silent. Are you okay? Do you need anything?’ ‘Christ, they were being such a dick to you, bud. It’s uncalled for. Do you want me to hang around with you in case they come back?’ ‘Oi, you! D’you have a light?’ ‘Hey, are you —-’s relative? You look so much like them it’s unreal!’ ‘Please can I have your autograph?…Oh, wait, sorry! You must hear this all of the time, but you look just like —-.’ ‘SANDRA, I LOVE YOU! …Oh, hell. You’re not Sandra. Heh. Awkward.’ ‘Please can you get your feet off of that seat? There’s no other seats available on this train/bus.’ ‘Hey — Sorry, please can I sit next to you? Everywhere else is full.’ ‘Do your headphones work? I’m just asking because I think the entire train/bus/plane can hear your choice in ‘music’, mate…’ ‘Stop kicking my seat, for goodness sake!’ ‘Shsh! I’m trying to enjoy the movie/play/opera, and I can’t if you keep talking!’ ‘Oh, cheers, bud. Thanks for the spoiler! Looks like I can’t even go to my bloody convenience store without somebody talking about the latest episode of —-.’ ‘…Real classy to talk to people in public bathrooms, dude.’ ‘Do you mind if we share this taxi? I’m going to the same place that you are.’ ‘Please can you act like we know each other? That guy won’t leave me alone.’ ‘Woooah, how much have you had to drink? Let me call you a taxi.’ ‘Hey, this’ll sound weird, but do you need a lift? You haven’t even got a coat and it looks like this weather is about to get a whole load worse.’ ‘Please can you walk with me for a while? I think that someone is following me.’ ‘STOP THIEF! HELP! That guy just stole my purse/wallet!’ ‘Hey, hey, let’s sit you down for a minute, okay? You look like you’re going to pass right out.’ ‘Yikes, I just saw you trip over that thing. Are you okay?’ ‘FREE HUGS! Would you like a free hug, sir/ma’am?’ ‘Here, let me pay for the rest of it. We’re all going through hard times, it’s okay.’ ‘Heeeey, sorry, this is going to sound really weird…please could you pretend to be my boss? My mum is coming to meet me and I…may have kinda said I was out with work.’ ‘Please pretend to be my date. My ex has just walked in and I want to look a lot less pathetic and single.’ ‘Hey, do you mind coming to sit with me? My date just stood me up and this whole restaurant is looking like they pity me.’
