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Everyone knows lying is bad, and when you're a kid you're taught not to do it, through whatever means your parents preferred. Most people don't stop lying there, though. They just get better at it.

Of course, you should never lie about anything big, but little white lies have become intrinsic to how most people function. These are the small, inconsequential fibs that we whip out in order to just get on with our day, to avoid hurting someone's feelings, or to spice up a story. You often don't even have to think too hard about it, it comes so naturally.

Some people can convince themselves they're just tweaking the truth, but similar to "alternative facts," the word you're really looking for is "lying." But it doesn't make you a bad person! It makes you just like everyone else: human.

Check out this gallery to see some of the most common lies people have told at least once in their lives—lies which will surely be used again—and take comfort in this bizarre, unwritten social agreement wherein people will actually accept these as truth, despite having used the very same lies themselves.

▲Traffic is only good for one thing, and it's being a fantastic scapegoat.

▲This is unfortunately the best, most irrefutable way to avoid plans without hurting someone's feelings.

▲Streaming Netflix on your laptop instead of a TV screen doesn't actually mean you watch less TV.

▲It’s most definitely you.

▲A magnifying glass! How useful! Thank you so much...

▲See also: "I’m five minutes away."

▲It most definitely is not okay, but you don’t want to throw a temper tantrum in public.

▲You saw the email, and you probably even opened and read it. But when you decided to deal with it later, that "later" never came.

▲This knee-jerk response to "How are you?" is deeply saddening, but you smile through the tears, hangover, bad day, etc. anyway.

▲Thank goodness for that fake appointment that magically keeps moving around your empty calendar.

▲Why we feel the compulsion to please our dentists is a mystery, especially since they can certainly tell we've only flossed once since the last check-up.

▲This is just code for "I didn’t feel like it but I didn't think you'd remember."

▲This is most effective when your partner asks how much you spent on that recent extravagant purchase. Adding that "it was on sale" is a good one for obviously expensive items.

▲This band-aid lie comes in handy when you were not, in fact, going to say anything about hair at all because you had no idea they had just gotten a really pricey haircut until they not-so-subtly hinted at it.

▲Only the best liars will also suggest that you should both go get a coffee sometime, knowing full well that you'd be content never seeing them again.

▲Telling a mother that their baby actually isn't cute is a very easy way to put your life in danger.

▲It's too embarrassing when someone remembers you, your name, and where you met, but you're drawing a blank.

▲Dating apps have guaranteed that most people judge a person's picture first.

▲When asked for a stick of gum or a cigarette, you know you're being petty by not handing it over, so a little white lie will get you out of that bind.

▲This is what most people say when whatever story they're listening to is so uninteresting that they can’t think of anything else to say.

▲You saw, you ignored their attempts to get your attention, but you couldn't hide forever.

▲Whether you say it’s to feed the cat, relieve the babysitter, or anything else you can think of last minute, "have to" is always a stretch.

▲A month of me-time and self-care counts as being busy, no?

▲You accidentally blurted out something that was a bit too honest, and before you form enemies you use this lie to cloak your real feelings.

▲Really, really good friends, that's all. This is often used when you have feelings for someone, but you're not ready to share them just yet.

▲One day you'll have the heart to tell your self-proclaimed master chef friend that they can't actually cook, but that day is not today.

▲You know it looks ridiculous, but your friend loves it so much. What else could you say?

▲It doesn’t actually make sense, but you're probably just trying to end the conversation as fast as possible.

▲If you were to share your real weaknesses, you probably wouldn’t get the job, so you're better off going with "I’m such a perfectionist."

▲Someone mentions a seminal book you probably should have read by now, but you just never got around to it. You're not alone! Check out the 30 books everyone lies about having read.

The most common lies everyone has told at least once

You and everyone else will "be there soon"

18/07/19 por StarsInsider

LIFESTYLE Humor

Everyone knows lying is bad, and when you're a kid you're taught not to do it, through whatever means your parents preferred. Most people don't stop lying there, though. They just get better at it.