Dating expert reveals surprising number of people will lie about relationships over Christmas

Christmas can be an awkward time for singletons and according to one dating expert, a surprising number of people are actually lying about their relationship status to avoid difficult questions over the holiday season.

Whether it be going to a Christmas market or having a cosy pub lunch, the festive period is the perfect bonding opportunity for couples, young and old.

But for those who are single, it can be a little frustrating at the dinner table on December 25 when a family member you only see once a year asks if you are dating anyone.

And a recent study conducted by Wisp, involving 2,800 single people in the UK, found a surprising number of people lie or exaggerate about their love life.

Wisp, a dating app, found that 70 percent of those they spoke to felt 'more judged and scrutinised' about their relationship status during Christmas than at any other time of the year.

It's meant to be the time of joy, right? (Getty Stock Image)

Meanwhile, Gen Z and Millennials are apparently more likely to lie about their love lives at the dinner table than Gen X. 47 percent of Gen Z admitted to bending the truth over Christmas, compared to 35 percent of Millennials.

Just 18 percent of Gen X are likely to twist the truth when it comes to their dating status during the festive season.

Remarkably, Wisp found that one in three singletons lie to their family about their relationship status as the pressure to be 'sorted' heightens while we tuck into our turkey feast every year.

The research uncovered that 27 percent of singles lie about having a partner to avoid the tricky questions, while 14 percent even go as far as making fake names and backstories for their imaginary other half.

27 percent of singles are said to have lied about their relationship status (Getty Stock Image)

It may sound pretty extraordinary for singles to go to such lengths, but Sylvia Linzalone, a dating expert at Wisp, has claimed such behavior is certainly understandable.

“Christmas compresses all the usual dating pressure into one week,” she explained. “You’re surrounded by couples, traditions and well-meaning relatives who see asking about your love life as harmless – but for singles, it can feel like an interrogation. Lying becomes a form of self-protection.”

Linzalone added: “What these stats really show is how uncomfortable we still are with being single. People aren’t lying because they’re ashamed – they’re lying because they’re tired of defending their life choices over roast potatoes.”

I mean, just let all the singletons enjoy their roast potatoes, eh?