Five minutes late and the agenda has moved on. Ten ways to slide in without dragging the call backwards.
Five minutes late and the agenda has moved on. Ten ways to slide in without dragging the call backwards.
Ten hand-picked excuses
01
Apologies, previous meeting ran long; please carry on, I'll catch up.
02
VPN was renegotiating; I'm in.
03
Wrong calendar link; on the right one now.
04
Sorry, took a customer call that wouldn't end on time.
05
Childcare drop-off ran late; here now, will read the chat.
06
Calendar swapped time zones on me; here.
07
Doctor's call ran over by ten; in now.
08
Battery died mid-walk; back on power.
09
Joined the wrong meeting first; switching tabs.
10
Will keep my camera off for a minute while I catch up on the agenda.
Or generate one
Click below for a fresh excuse.
FAQ
What's the most credible excuse for a meeting you are joining late?
Apologies, previous meeting ran long; please carry on, I'll catch up. It works because it's specific, time-bounded, and doesn't require anyone to verify it.
Can I use the same excuse twice?
Sparingly. Pattern-match is the enemy of plausibility. Rotate from the list of 30 on this page.
Should I post a written update instead?
Almost always yes. A two-sentence async update earns more trust than showing up silent on camera.