The meeting became boring, so I decided to exit stage left.
exit stage left
idiomAn orderly and uneventful departure, timed so as not to detract or distract.
Origin
disputed originFrom the direction in theatrical scripts: "Exit stage left", marking the disappearance of a character from the stage in the normal manner.
When the argument between my coworkers started to get heated, I decided it was time to exit stage left.
Sensing that his presence was no longer required at the tense negotiation, he quietly gathered his papers and chose to exit stage left.
- 01
be left at the post
To be beaten from the beginning of a competition or race.
- 02
be left holding the baby
To be left with the responsibility of resolving a problem.
- 03
Elvis has left the building
A phrase used to announce the end of a show, usually one performed by an Elvis impersonator.
- 04
go left
To take a turn for the worse, to go horribly wrong.
- 05
has left the building
Something is gone and never coming back.
- 06
hold the stage
To dominate a debate or field of interest; to be the main subject of attention.
- 07
left turn
An unexpected change from the way things seemed to be going.
- 08
set the stage
To prepare; to establish the basis or required conditions.