For some people it feels easier to give a ‘soft’ rejection, and ‘let you down easy’. People also believe that a soft rejection may help to temper potential violent male responses to being rejected romantically.

It is misleading when taken literally, and needs to be understood in combination with other social cues. (Does this person show continuing effort to develop a friendship? Do they ever reach out first? Does the dynamic feel one-sided? Do they subsequently make more negative comments that express a disinterest in continuing the friendship or ‘let you down’ further?)