Let me check my diary
DY-uh-ree /ˈdaɪəri/
Neutral Polite
What it really means
Sometimes a genuine need to check dates, but often a polite delay before declining. If no answer ever comes, the answer was no. In Britain "diary" means calendar/schedule, not a secret journal.
Chinese explanation
有时是真要查日程，但更多是拒绝前的礼貌缓冲。如果之后再无下文，答案就是"不"。注意英式英语的 diary 指日程本，不是私密日记。
Example conversation
A: Can you do dinner next Thursday?
B: Let me check my diary and get back to you.
A：下周四能一起吃晚饭吗？
B：我查一下日程再回复你。
All Politeness Decoder
Reviewed by the UK Decoded editorial team
· Last checked 24 July 2026 · Report a mistake