One time a grocery store clipboard guy was going too hard so I said “I’ve got fish in the car” and the weird level of specificity shut the whole interaction down. Now I use it all the time. Can’t talk, fish in the car. Works even better if you’re not at a grocery store honestly.

Husband, looking out the window: that's a weird bird noise
Me: what is it
Him:it looks like a bluejay
Me: maybe it was a juvenile noise
Him: like armpit farts?