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What options are there to politely say you haven't met someone yet? For example if you have a common acquaintance online who asks if you know each other.

"I haven't had the pleasure to meet him yet"

or

"I haven't had the opportunity to meet him yet"

Are there better expressions?

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3 Answers

up vote 5 down vote accepted

One small modification will make your expressions correct, polite ways to express it:

I haven't had the pleasure/opportunity of meeting him yet.

Shorthand for either (especially the first) expression is fine, also:

I haven't had the pleasure.

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In my experience, “I haven’t had the pleasure” doesn’t mean quite this: that would more typically be said directly to the person you don’t know, with the meaning “we haven’t been introduced” (cf. “I don’t believe I’ve had the pleasure”. – PLL Sep 21 '11 at 4:09
up vote 3 down vote

I don't think there's anything impolite in simply saying, "No, we've not yet met" or "No, we haven't met".

Perhaps I'm ruder than some, but I've never sincerely used the expression "I haven't had the pleasure".

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Agreed, although I still use formal conventions in formal situations. But no one can be sincere in expressing fondness for an unknown person. Form letters signed "Best regards" or any automated politeness strike me as hollow and in fact detract from genuine human sincerity. I hope this sort of thing is a passing fad. – DeepYellow Sep 21 '11 at 8:19
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I often hear/read the expression "I haven't had the pleasure" used in an obviously ironic sense, i.e. the person concened is clearly not a pleasure to meet. I'd be careful with the context/tone when using it. – Matt Sep 21 '11 at 9:33
up vote -2 down vote

I've YET to have the pleasure/opportunity. Just bring the preposition forward.

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Which preposition would that be? – tchrist Feb 9 at 21:43

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