These are the 10 fibs you should be telling if you want to keep your relationship on track
A little white lie every now and then never hurt anyone
WHEN it comes to relationships, honesty is the best policy, right? Not always.
A new study has revealed both sexes lie about how many people they have slept with – with guys likely to exaggerate while women cut the number.
While it’s not OK to fib about important things like a secret family or an STI, sometimes a little white lie can help avoid needless rows, bruised egos and a night sleeping on the sofa.
JOELY CHILCOTT reveals the ten things you SHOULD lie about in your relationship.
1. What you REALLY think of their family
You find their mum overbearing, their dad dull and their sister down-right bitchy.
But to your partner, smile sweetly, nod and NEVER admit your true feelings.
It’s an argument you will be destined to lose, no matter how many digs his mum has made about your spag bol.
And you don’t want your partner to speak badly of your family, either.
It’s the age-old rule that you are allowed to be annoyed by them, but no one else is. So save the eye-rolling for the emoji in your WhatsApp group.
2. Who you fancy – unless they are a celebrity
Never, under any circumstances, mention which of their friends you find attractive.
It will only lead to crippling insecurity on their part. And, maybe even more importantly, do not reveal that you fancy someone at work.
It becomes even more of a sticking point if you admit liking Mike in the post room or Amy in accounts who your partner has never met.
They will undoubtedly waste hours trying to look up every photo of them on Instagram.
Celebrities are free rein. They are unobtainable, therefore safe territory. Unless you happen to stumble across George Clooney in Nando’s.
3. How much you have told friends about your sex life
Finding out your other half has told their mates about your favourite position, how long it lasts and details of that thing you did last night is not pleasant.
So always act nonchalant if the question ever arises about how much you divulge to pals.
Maintain the line that you are discreet and value privacy.
Both of you know deep down that your close friends know all the gory details, but ignorance is bliss.
4.What you’re REALLY wearing when sexting
“I’m wearing that underwear you love, I wish you could see me now.” He doesn’t need to know you’re actually in flannel pyjamas with your hair scraped back and eating ice cream out of the tub.
Keep that to yourself — a little make-believe never hurt anyone.
Just make sure he won’t unexpectedly turn up at your house . . .
5. That you skipped ahead on the Netflix box set you're both watching together
We’ve all been there. Your other half is out, you’re at home bored, and the remote is just sitting there enticingly. It would be so easy just to press play, they need never know. Three episodes of Game of Thrones later, you are disgusted with yourself.
Your partner will never trust you again if you reveal this dirty little secret.
Your punishment is to rewatch all of the episodes together, hence wasting three hours of your life. Just be careful not to say: “I like this bit.”
6. The best sex you’ve ever had – unless it was with them
Your sex life is good, with no real complaints. But there was this one time you just can’t get out of your head.
You know the one. Keep it to yourself.
Knocking their sexual ego will only turn sex into a competition and ultimately the results will be disappointing.
Quick finishes, positions that end up pulling muscles and weird new techniques in a bid to outsex your best time is not fun for anyone.
7. Secret savings that you have stashed away
Building a life with your partner often means sharing your likes, hobbies and, sometimes, bank accounts. But it’s always worth having a little independence when it comes to your finances.
Keeping a little money “for a rainy day” is never a bad thing.
Who knows when it might come in handy? And it’s your money.
You don’t want them using it against you when they need to buy the next round at the pub.
8. How much you think about your ex
A fleeting thought or a full-blown sex dream — any mention of your ex is completely off limits.
If they directly ask you anything about past relationships, immediately switch to white-lie mode and shrug it off.
You don’t want to hear they went to that restaurant with their ex, either, so pretend they didn’t exist.
9. How they REALLY look in that new outfit they love
Remember the “does my bum look big in this?” cliché? It’s still a thing.
If they ask you, proud as punch, how they look in that Hawaiian shirt/LBD, always reply with a positive if you want to escape alive.
Have some adequate adjectives at the ready. Lovely, beautiful, handsome, great — they all work well. But never “fine”.
This is as bad as saying they look awful. Fine means you can’t be bothered to think of anything else and the way they look is decidedly average.
10. That you’ve already planned every detail of your future together
Yes, you need to make sure you’re on the same page.
Do they want to get married? Do they want kids? Are they thinking in the same timeframe?
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All worthwhile questions. But keep that scrapbook of wedding venues hidden and the final names of your kids a secret until the time is right.
It is frightening to your other half that their life is all mapped out years in advance without their input.
Besides, you’ll likely get your own way anyway.