Let’s get real about getting, well…not so real. We all love our friends, but there are times when little white lies (and sometimes bigger ones) slip out as easily as Netflix automatically playing the next episode. Here’s a peek into the most common fibs we tell our nearest and dearest.
1. Their Beauty Routines
These folks will claim they “woke up like this” after spending an hour on their morning routine. They’ll say their hair color is natural when their roots tell a different story, or pretend their skin “just gets like this” while hiding a bathroom cabinet full of expensive products. When asked about their beauty secrets, they’ll mention drinking water and getting enough sleep, conveniently forgetting about their monthly maintenance appointments.
2. Their Dating Life
These storytellers transform awkward coffee dates into rom-com-worthy encounters. They’ll downplay how many dating apps they’re really on, or claim they’re “taking a break from dating” while secretly messaging potential matches. When friends ask about that person they’ve been seeing, they’ll say “It’s nothing serious” even though they’ve already named their future children. Every bad date becomes “a funny story” rather than another disappointment.
3. Being “Just Fine”
The classic “I’m fine” might be the most repeated lie in the history of friendship. They’re drowning in work stress, fighting with their partner, and just spent an hour crying in the car, but ask them how they’re doing, and suddenly everything’s “totally fine!” They’ll brush off concerns with a quick smile and change the subject faster than you can say “Are you sure?” Sometimes they’re trying to avoid burdening others, and sometimes they’re just not ready to talk about what’s really going on.
4. Their Spending Habits
Watch them explain how they got that new designer bag “on super sale” or how they “had a gift card” for those expensive shoes. They’ll downplay major purchases while telling their budget-conscious friends they’re also trying to save money. They’ve mastered the art of hiding shopping bags and removing price tags before anyone can see them. When friends ask where they got something, they’ll casually mumble “Oh, this old thing?” as if they didn’t just max out their credit card for it last week.
5. Their Diet
These folks will order a salad at lunch with friends while maintaining their secret snack drawer at home that would put a convenience store to shame. They’ll claim they’re “eating clean” while having a midnight love affair with their DoorDash account. When friends ask how they lost weight, they’ll talk about green smoothies and yoga but conveniently leave out their three-day juice cleanse that left them hallucinating about cheeseburgers.
6. Why They Can’t Make It
The elaborate excuses they create to skip social events could qualify as short stories. They’ll claim they’re “coming down with something” when really they just want to stay home and watch true crime documentaries in their pajamas. They’ve perfected the art of the vague “something came up” text, complete with just enough detail to sound legit but not enough to be fact-checked.
7. Their Social Life
They’ll create imaginary plans to seem busier than they are or make up conflicts to avoid admitting they just don’t want to go out. They’ll talk about all the “other friends” they hang out with, who mysteriously never appear in photos. On Monday mornings, they’ll describe their “crazy weekend” that actually consisted of watching an entire season of a show while eating cereal for dinner.
8. Their Living Situation
Watch them frantically clean before friends visit while claiming “It usually looks like this.” They’ll blame their roommate for all the dishes in the sink, even though they live alone. They’ll talk about their “cozy” apartment when they really mean tiny, or their “up-and-coming” neighborhood when they really mean sketchy. When friends drop by unexpectedly, they’ll apologize for the “mess” while kicking dirty laundry under the bed.
9. Their Cultural Knowledge
They’ll nod along in conversations about books they’ve never read or shows they’ve only seen recaps of. They’ll claim to have “been meaning to watch” that critically acclaimed film while having no intention of ever seeing it. When someone references a classic album, they’ll say they “love that one song” while frantically Googling under the table.
10. Their Family Life
They’ll downplay family drama while posting perfect holiday photos on social media. They’ll claim their parents are “just traditional” when really they’re attempting to micromanage their adult life. When friends ask about tense family situations, they’ll brush it off with “Oh, you know how families are” while sitting on enough drama for a reality TV season.
11. Their Achievements
Listen to them casually mention they were “in the running” for opportunities they barely qualified for, or claim they’re “basically finished” with projects they’ve barely started. They’ll round up their GPA from college or embellish their role in successful team projects. Every minor victory becomes an epic tale of personal triumph.
12. Their Knowledge of Current Events
They’ll skim headlines and pretend to have deep insights about news stories they barely understand. They’ll repeat opinions they saw on social media as if they’re their own carefully considered thoughts. When current events come up in conversation, they’ll offer vague statements like “it’s just so complicated” to hide the fact that they’re not really sure what everyone’s talking about.
13. How They Met Their Partner
When friends ask how they got together, they’ll spin tales about mutual friends and destiny, conveniently leaving out the three dating apps and sliding into DMs that actually started it all. They’ll claim they were set up by colleagues when really they recognized each other from failed matches on different dating platforms years ago. Some even coordinate with their partners to maintain these fictional origin stories, turning “we were both drunk at a dive bar” into “we locked eyes at a charity gala.”
