smoke curtain

one of the most efficient ways of getting out of trouble is not to find a good excuse, but to create a smoke curtain. in other words: before your adversary has the time to start bashing you, make a diversion by talking about something completely different that might be of his and her interest, or of someone else's interest. and then let it build up, let everyone start talking about it, and quietly drift away from the conversation. unless you have fucked up big time... it will work.