Get Out of Trouble With Your Guy.(ways to head off anger or an argument)(Brief Article)

Try one of these chill-him-out tricks the next time his temper starts to flare.

* So you screwed up. Whether it was flirting with your too-friendly neighborhood bartender or showing up 45 minutes late because your got "stuck" at a shoe sale, you know things are about to get ugly...unless you slyly smooth your rooster's ruffled feathers. I wish I could say that guys are complicated creatures and it's going to take a Ph.D. in reverse psychology to get the job done, but the truth is, if you work one of these embarrassingly simple moves, you'll most likely get off scot-free...no matter what your sin.

Being the bootylicious babe you are, you undoubtedly get compliments all the time, whether they're from your boyfriend, your girlfriends, or a catcalling construction worker. But with the possible exception of his mother, your man doesn't have anyone but you to band him these little ego boosts. So use this edge to your advantage. "I was so pissed when I found out that Ally had dinner with her ex," admits Dave [*], 24. "But when she just looked at me and said, 'My sister was right; you are the best looking guy I've ever dated,' it totally pulled the plug on my anger.

heap on the compliments

crack a joke

Relying on jokes to defuse tension is ingrained in guys' genetic code--and up for grabs for you to use too. "When Heather admitted that she'd forgotten to walk my dog when I was out of town overnight, I almost lost it," says Jason, 25. "But when she offered to pay for lessons to have him potty trained, I had to laugh at the image of my bulldog perched on the bowl. She got off with a warning that time." So the next time your man is showing signs of flying into an apelike rage, crack a joke and see if it doesn't soothe the savage beast.

let it lie