To tell the truth, women lie

The minefield of modern manners has turned British women into bare-faced liars.

A study of 5,000 women shows that only six per cent claim never to have uttered a falsehood.

The rest lie regularly about everything from why they are late to their boyfriend's sexual prowess.

Three-quarters said they had told major lies with serious consequences, such as pretending to be on the Pill to get pregnant. "Women lie because they're afraid to tell the truth," said psychologist Susan Quilliam. "They're scared of hurting people, scared of failing and scared of being criticised.

"Women are expected to fulfill expectations, and to get what they want in life they feel they have to gloss over the truth."

Most of the fibs are white lies. Among common admissions were faking orgasms (48 per cent); pretending to weigh less (51 per cent); feigning delight at Christmas presents (88 per cent) and reporting sick to get over a hangover (60 per cent).

But almost half said that if they became pregnant through an affair they might tell their partner the child was his.

The study was commissioned by That's Life magazine and the average age of respondents was 38.

Jo Checkley, editor of That's Life!, said: "Just imagine the consequences if women always told the truth: 'Yes, you do look fat in that dress'."