I must dash
must DASH /dæʃ/
Informal Polite
What it really means
A polite way to leave: "I have to go now". Dash means run. It may be true, or just a kind way to end a long conversation. No offence is meant.
Chinese explanation
礼貌的告辞：我得赶紧走了。dash 是飞奔的意思。可能真有急事，也可能只是友善地结束长谈，并无恶意。
Example conversation
A: Sorry, I must dash — my bus is in five minutes.
B: Off you go! See you soon.
A：抱歉，我得赶紧走了——我的公交五分钟后就到。
B：快去吧！回头见。
All Politeness Decoder
Reviewed by the UK Decoded editorial team
· Last checked 24 July 2026 · Report a mistake