Popular lies
Britain's most popular lie: 'sorry I had no mobile phone signal'
Researchers found the average Briton tells on average four lies every day or almost 1500 every year.Almost one in six men admitted they were most likely to lie to their wife or girlfriend, on average at least twice a day.
The most popular lie was saying you had no mobile phone signal, with one in four people admitting regularly using the little white lie. It usually came after they hit the "ignore" button when their mobile rang.
One in three Britons have lied about their weight, a quarter fibbed about the amount of debt they are in and 30 per cent have bent the truth about the amount of exercise they do.
Kissing or spending the night with another person emerged as the worst lie to tell while one in five males admitted to lying to their girlfriend to go to the pub or watch sport.
Almost a quarter of blokes have told their partner they look good in an outfit, despite thinking the opposite.
More than a fifth have even lied about flirting with another woman.
More than 40 per cent of women owned up to lying about how much new clothes actually cost while 30 per cent have fibbed about how much they've had to drink.
Three quarters of people think women are better liars. The research found 46 per cent of girls have been caught lying, compared to 58 of men.
The second most common fib is ''I haven't got any cash on me'' when asked for money by tramps, beggars and Big Issue sellers.
''Nothing's wrong – I'm fine'' came third followed by ''You look lovely'' and ''Nice to see you''.
Modern technology emerged as the instigator of many lies with ''I didn't get your text'' in 18th, ''Our server was down'' in 20th and ''My battery died'' in 26th place.
Other lies to make the top ten included ''I'll give you a ring'', ''We're just good friends'' and ''We'll have to meet up soon''.
''I'm on my way'' and ''No, your bum doesn't look big in that'' completed the top ten.
Men who tell the most fibs, coming out with five every day compared who women who lie just three times.
A spokesman for OnePoll, which carried out the research of 4,300 adults, said: "As a nation we are obsessed with trying to be nice and not upsetting people.
"Often little white lies can paper over what we actually want to say.
"Most of these were considered either completely harmless or tactically necessary depending on the situation in which they are delivered."
He added: "It was sad to see a string of compliments in the top 50, but once again in many cases perhaps it is better to flatter with a fib than destroy someone with the truth."
TOP 50 MOST COMMON LIES
1. I had no signal
2. I haven't got any cash on me
3. Nothing's wrong – I'm fine
4. You look lovely
5. Nice to see you
6. I'll give you a ring
7. We're just good friends
8. We'll have to meet up soon
9. I'm on my way
10. No, your bum doesn't look big in that
11. Sorry, I missed your call
12. I'll give up tomorrow
13. I'm not angry with you
14. The traffic was bad
15. I've had this for ages
16. It wasn't that expensive
17. This will be my last pint
18. I didn't get your text
19. Of course I love you
20. Our server was down
21. I wasn't driving that fast
22. My alarm didn't go off
23. The cheque is in the post
24. You're looking well
25. I'd love to see you again
26. My battery died
27. It's not you, it's me
28. The train was delayed
29. I only have a little flutter
30. I'm going to the gym tonight
31. I don't eat too much – I have a slow metabolism
32. My watch stopped
33. No, I'm afraid I haven't got a spare five minutes
34. I've got a call on the other line
35. I'll phone you back in a minute
36. I've got a terrible cold
37. This tastes delicious
38. I didn't have that much to drink
39. I've been in meetings all day
40. I stayed in and had a quiet one
41. It was THIS BIG
42. I'm working late tonight
43. I bought the last one
44. I'm not ready for a relationship
45. It's just what I've always wanted
46. I'm going to have one more for the road
47. I wrote your number down incorrectly
48. You look like you've lost weight
49. My car wouldn't start
50. I didn't realise you fancied him/ her too
Read this article about a liar.
Read the plot of Catch me if you can, a film about a liar.
Source: You Tube Key words: fleetwood mac lies
In time then I'd rearrange just a day or two
Close my, close my, close my eyes
But I couldn't find a way
So I'll settle for one day to believe in you
Tell me, tell me, tell me lies
Tell me lies, tell me sweet little lies
Tell me lies, tell me, tell me lies
Oh no-no, you can't disguise
You can't disguise
No, you can't disguise
Tell me lies, tell me sweet little lies
Although I'm not making plans
I hope that you'll understand there's a reason why
Close your, close your, close your eyes
No more broken hearts
We're better off apart, let's give it a try
...
Comments
I understood IT AS a way of CORRECTING the error without ADMITTING it.
I agree with you that politeness is of great importance to the British but I think that is a good thing.
On the other hand, I think that the Brits try too hard not to upset people.
Maybe you should give the woman the benefit of the doubt, and she was simply being helpful when she offered to send the letter again.
I prefer to be honest and direct, trying not to hurt anyone.
People usually find it hard to admit that they made a mistake and find it easier to blame others instead.