Sometimes you return a wave from someone walking toward you—only to realize they were waving at the person behind you. Perhaps you thought a friendly stranger was waving at you. Or, maybe it was your crush Lauren who may or may not know you exist.

As soon as you realize your mistake, the situation is simple: either everyone watching, including Lauren, knows you just beclowned yourself by returning a wave that was not meant for you, or you act quickly to avoid humiliation.

Use one of these time-tested recovery moves:

It’s Not Me, It’s You

Suppress the instinct to burn with embarrassment and timidly lower your arm. Instead, continue waving with increasing enthusiasm as you walk past them. Because no, you’re not mistaken. They are. You’re actually waving at some very good friend of yours behind them. What just happened is their fault, not yours.

That’s a Stretch

Reach your raised arm over to the other side of your head and hold a lean. Now repeat with the other arm. You were never waving. You were limbering up for some intense athletic competition: football, rugby, or ultimate frisbee. Lauren now thinks you are a serious athlete.

The Ultimate

If outdoors, look to the sky and make a grasping motion with your hand as if you just caught something no one else saw. Then casually produce a frisbee that you keep stuffed down your pants at all times, and throw it. Smirk and say, “Still got it.” This works just as well indoors.

All Hail!

With your hand raised, shout, “Taxi!” You weren’t waving. You were flagging a ride. If a cab stops, get in. Now everyone is thinking you have somewhere more important to be. Are you headed to a cocktail party full of famous actors and professional Ultimate Frisbee celebs? Let them wonder.

Stolen Valor

Turn around and high-five the raised hand of the person the wave was actually meant for. Their hand is already up. Use that. Say, “There he is,” like you were expecting him. Now Lauren has to wonder why her friend just high-fived a random guy, and her friend has to wonder how they know you. You’re not erasing confusion. You’re redistributing it.

That’s What It’s All About

Put your raised hand in and shake it all about. Many others will start to join in, so you are no longer reacting—you are leading. No one questions the Hokey Pokey.

The Buzz

While your arm is up waving back, raise your other arm too and shout, “Bees! Don’t move!” Then clap both hands together as if crushing something mid-air, and yell, “The threat is cleared!” You didn’t misread a social cue. You identified a threat and acted decisively. If Lauren is allergic to bees you just handled that. Put on sunglasses.

Hazy Retreat

While everyone is looking at your waving hand, use your other hand to reach into your pocket for the smoke pellet you keep for situations like this. Throw the pellet at your feet. As you are enveloped in a cloud of smoke, crawl on your hands and knees and slip into the nearest open sewer grate. At this point, no one is asking, “Who’s that dumbass who misread the wave?” They are asking, “Who’s that mysterious smoke-man, and when will he return?”

Spin Move

If the previous moves fail to shift opinions about what just happened, wage a public influence campaign. As you pass any witnesses, say, “I can’t believe Lauren thought I was waving at her. I was clearly waving at a group of orphans who were on their way to the planetarium. Good thing I donated that money to the orphanage so they can afford field trips.” You’ve established the narrative. This is now what happened.

The Unthinkable

Simply acknowledge and own your error. Remain still. Make eye contact with Lauren. Declare, in full view of everyone present, that you are the one who misunderstood what just happened. This kind of honesty can be disarming. Even attractive. You are the kind of person who owns his mistakes.

After you confess your mistake, Lauren smiles, and says, “Sorry—do I know you?” You really should have pulled out the crotch-holstered frisbee, or screamed about bees.