Top lies Brits tell their colleagues to appear more cultured

The British public have confessed to lying about which countries they’ve travelled to, what books they’ve read and even food they like in order to impress colleagues and friends.

According to a study into cultural experiences by MSC Cruises UK, nearly one in three tell their colleagues that they’re ‘foodies’ who regularly dine on exotic food such as quinoa and oysters, while just over one in five have lied to their peers to make themselves sound more worldly. 21% have boasted of being well travelled, with countries such as New Zealand, Iceland and Jamaica among places British workers claim to have visited while never actually going.

Pulp Fiction and The Godfather topped the biggest film fibs told to be part of the conversation, while Shakespeare’s Romeo & Juliet, Macbeth and Hamlet were the plays people falsely boasted to have seen the most. Despite this, the study revealed that many are more cultured than they realised, with the average Brit reading 16 books, attending nine fine dining experiences and watching 27 documentaries per year. 35% claim they would consider a cruise to the Mediterranean or Caribbean to broaden their horizons, something that travel company MSC Cruises is hoping to encourage.

“Visiting somewhere such as the Mediterranean or Caribbean on a cruise is a great way to visit different countries without having to unpack a suitcase,” said Antonio Paradiso, country manager of MSC Cruises UK, who believes cruising gives people the opportunity to “discover differing cultures, cuisines and traditions in a short amount of time, giving guests plenty of new stories and experiences to share with family and friends.”

Top 5 places Brits claim to have visited
1. New Zealand
2. New York
3. Australia
4. Rome
5. Paris

Top 5 films Brits claim to have watched
1. Pulp Fiction
2. The Godfather
3. Fight Club
4. To Kill a Mocking Bird
5. It’s a Wonderful Life

Top 5 foods Brits claim to like
1. Sushi
2. Dark chocolate
3. Rare steak
4. Quinoa
5. Oysters

Top 5 plays Brits claim to have seen
1. Romeo and Juliet
2. Macbeth
3. Hamlet
4. A Midsummer Night’s Dream
5. King Lear

Top 5 books Brits claim to have read
1. War and Peace
2. Pride and Prejudice
3. Harry Potter and the Philosophers’ Stone
4. To Kill a Mockingbird
5. Life of Pi

You can click here to read the full list of lies we tell to appear more cultured.