When saying ‘Wow, thanks so much’ really means ‘That’s a terrible gift’

WE all struggle to feign that look of delight when unwrapping yet another pair of socks from Granny.

But most of us are tactful enough to find a few words of thanks to hide our disappointment at naff gifts. Now we really know what someone means when they say, ‘That’s so thoughtful’.

According to research, the recipient is actually declaring, ‘I would have preferred something else.’

The phrase ‘It’s just what I always wanted’ is the biggest indicator that the present is a dud – and actually means, ‘If I’d wanted that, I would have bought it myself.’ The clearest sign that a gift is genuinely liked is the response, ‘I have been saving for one of those for ages.’

But a sure-fire indication they will exchange it is being asked for the receipt so they can get the same present ‘in another colour or size’.

And beware the phrase, ‘That will go nicely with my...’ because they are really trying to say, ‘There are only a handful of occasions where I could ever wear this.’ ‘Oh wow, thanks so much!’ can also

be translated as, ‘Oh wow, that’s a terrible present’. The poll of 1, 00 people by discount website Voucher Codes found as many as 86 per cent of us have faked a reaction when opening a gift.

We are most likely to try to fool our partners with our mock delight, according to the survey. Six in ten say they pretend to like dreadful gifts as they wouldn’t want to offend the giver.

But 13 per cent say they secretly return anything they don’t like and swap it for something ‘decent’. Of those polled, 71 per cent said they have unused presents cluttering their home, with the average adult on the receiving end of £708 worth of unwanted gifts over the years.

In the poll, 38 per cent said they give unwanted gifts to the charity shop and 26 per cent sell them online.

Some 31 per cent say they felt insulted by a naff present, with 22 per cent immediately confronting the person who gave it to them. Almost a third admit holding a grudge against those who gave them an awful present years ago.

‘Hold a grudge for years’