Exit stage right
Meaning
To make a quick and often inconspicuous departure from a situation or conversation.
Origin
In the world of theatre, "exit stage right" is a precise instruction for an actor to leave the stage via the right-hand side from the audience's perspective. These straightforward stage directions, printed in play scripts for centuries, literally guide performers off-scene, often into the wings where they are no longer visible. This practical command migrated from the dramatic arts into everyday speech, allowing individuals to describe their own swift and often inconspicuous departures from an uncomfortable or unwinnable situation, adopting the clear, decisive motion of an actor leaving the spotlight.
Examples
- When the argument started heating up, he decided it was best to exit stage right before things got out of hand.
- After realizing she was the only one not invited to the after-party, she quietly gathered her things and exited stage right.