You were set up, really. One minute they were raving about your idea for next semester's school fund-raiser, and before you knew it, you'd agreed to run the entire thing. But fear not! Below, Jodi R.R. Smith, president of Mannersmith, an etiquette consulting firm, offers three easy one-liners to get you out of any situation with your dignity intact and your conscience clear.

"Unfortunately, I won't be able to run the fund-raiser after all, but I'd love to be in charge of next month's bake sale."

"I'm so sorry I won't be able to oversee the fund-raiser, but (a) I can whip up a design for the flyer or (b) Jen offered to take my place!"

"Thank you so much for asking me to run the program, but something's come up and I won't be able to." Sure, it's nice to offer a contingency plan if you want to, but one of the perks of being an adult is getting to change your mind without having to explain yourself.