Britain is a proud nation of fakers, with two-thirds believing we have perfected the art of receiving presents we do not like.
As many as 69 per cent of Brits would not dream of telling someone they didn’t like a gift given to them – with a third (30 per cent) regularly pretending to like pressies they actually hate, according to a new survey.
In fact, half (49 per cent) admit they often receive Christmas gifts they dislike – so much so that 60 per cent believe they have perfected the art of faking their joy.
And according to one in three (31 per cent) of the nation’s ‘faking experts’, exclaiming ‘thank you! It’s what I’ve always wanted’ in a big voice, is the best way to disguise your dislike, along with common phrases, ‘you really shouldn’t have’ (23 per cent) or ‘it’ll be so useful’ (22 per cent), according to the findings by online card marketplace thortful.
Changing the topic quickly to focus on someone else (nine per cent) and hopefully quipping ‘it will look great when I put it on’ (nine per cent) are also among the top ways to hide dislike.
Body language expert Judi James said: ‘Gift-giving is an emotional experience, but receiving a present we’re less-than-thrilled with can put people in a tough spot. Many of us resort to a “performance” to spare the feelings of our loved ones.
‘In fact, the art of a “fake reaction” is often revealed in subtle tells: overly enthusiastic smiles that don’t quite reach the eyes, exaggerated expressions, and delayed or rehearsed responses.
As many as 69 per cent of Brits would not dream of telling someone they didn’t like a gift given to them – with a third (30 per cent) regularly pretending to like pressies they actually hate, according to a new survey (file image)
‘It’s fascinating that 60 percent of Brits feel they’ve mastered this skill – a testament to our deep-rooted desire to keep the festive spirit alive and avoid any awkwardness around gift exchanges.’
A third (33 per cent) go a step further and say they would rather not receive a present at all, than get something they hate.
And four in ten (43 per cent) admit they would prefer to receive a thoughtful, heartfelt Christmas card rather than a gift that felt impersonal.
Pip Heywood, Managing Director at thortful, which commissioned the survey of 2,000 Brits, said: ‘A meaningful message can often mean more than a last-minute, impulse purchase.
‘Our research shows we’re a sentimental nation that appreciates a heartfelt message over wasted presents. This Christmas, we’re encouraging more thoughtful, meaningful connections across the nation.’
One in six (16 per cent) fake their reactions all the time, while 18 per cent admit they have given up hope of getting a present they will actually like.
Despite trying to avoid any hurt, 18 per cent of fakers were found out in the end, while one in ten (13 per cent) eventually told the gifter how they felt because they couldn’t hold it in any longer (file image)
A third (30 per cent) have lowered their expectations when it comes to presents, while almost half (45 per cent) now tell family and friends what they want to avoid disappointment.
Residents in Sunderland (50 per cent), Birmingham (38 per cent), Cambridge (38 per cent) and Nottingham (34 per cent) are most likely to fake their reactions to save the other person’s feelings. In contrast, those in Aberdeen (35 per cent), Norwich (33 per cent) and Belfast (31 per cent) are most likely to ‘give it to you straight’ as they rarely lie about disliking a festive present.
Despite trying to avoid any hurt, 18 per cent of fakers were found out in the end, while one in ten (13 per cent) eventually told the gifter how they felt because they couldn’t hold it in any longer.
A third (35 per cent) re-gifted the bad present, while a tenth (11 per cent) threw it in the bin.