Average Briton hides their true feelings 11 times each week, survey says

People most likely to tell 'white lie' when commenting on someone’s cooking or outfit, poll finds

Nearly half of the survey’s respondents said they regularly “put on a front” for other people to disguise how they are really feeling (Getty iStock)

The average Briton will lie about how they really feel 11 times a week, according to a new a poll.

Rather than causing offence, nine in 10 avoid speaking their minds, the survey found. Respondents were most likely to tell a "white lie" when commenting on a friend's cooking.

One in four said they would tell a friend their cooking was delicious despite this not being true and 22 per cent would lie to someone wearing an unflattering outfit to avoid any conflict.

One in seven would avoid making an honest comment about the appearance of an "ugly" baby and 13 per cent would still give their compliments to the chef even if their food was sub-par at a restaurant.

In total, 49 per cent of respondents felt they had an ‘"inner voice" which guided them when it comes to making decisions in their life and 77 per cent of the survey’s respondents thought it generally guided them in the right direction.

“It is common to feel conflict when it comes to saying what your “inner voice” implores you to say, versus what polite society deems acceptable," said a spokesperson for Sky, which commissioned the poll. “And while most Brits recognise this voice inside them, guiding them and telling them the best things to do in times of tough decisions, sometimes we have to think of better ways to navigate life than in a purely honest fashion.”

The survey also revealed that the average person will speak their mind without thinking three times a month.

Nineteen per cent said they felt their "inner voice" starting to come out after they’ve had a few drinks at the pub, while one in 10 thought it was unpredictable – with comments slipping out at inopportune moments.

The survey respondents said they are most likely to say what they truly feel with when speaking with someone who has upset them personally.

But one in eight said they rarely or never tell people how they truly feel and 47 per cent said they regularly “put on a front” for other people to disguise how they are really feeling.

Two in five are certain they have hurt someone’s feelings with their honesty and 49 per cent have had their own feelings hurt by someone else’s candid words.

However, on average the survey’s respondents said they have four people in their lives who they can speak their mind to with impunity.

SWNS