Say goodbye to ‘the cheque is in the post’ - ‘I didn’t hear my phone ring’ and 'I had no signal' are now among modern life's most common excuses, research has revealed. A study of 2,000 adults found the cliched excuses of old are dying off, being replaced with a string of more technology based ones.
The research revealed the top three excuses are all related to a failure to respond to calls, emails or texts with 'I didn't receive the email' coming second ahead of 'I didn't get your text'.
'I'll do it tomorrow', and 'I haven't got time' completed the top five. 'The cheque is in the post' only made it to number 30 in the list.
Millions of adults also regularly claim ‘I've left my wallet at home’ when it’s their round and ‘my alarm didn’t go off’ when they are late for work.
Excuses are also wheeled out when it comes to avoiding gym sessions or nights out, while others admit they use the cold or wet weather, a lack of cash and 'i need an early night' whenever they can.
The study was commissioned by Ordnance Survey to launch its GeoVation Challenge,which encourages active lifestyles.
Spokesman Chris Parker said:
"Everyone has moments where they need to make excuses to either get out of something they don’t really want to be doing, or to explain why they haven’t done something they should have.
"Thanks to technology advances, the ‘cheque’ excuse is becoming less common, but it seems many people have excuses ready for everything from not answering the phone to not meeting their friends or even doing something that involves you being active.
"Exercising or being active often requires people to be in the ‘right mood’, so it’s easy to understand why so many admit to making excuses, especially when the weather is bad or they are tired.
"Being active doesn’t have to mean going for an intense run or joining a team sport, it could be as simple as some gardening or walking instead of driving, but being active is paramount.
"Many excuses for choosing not to be active could be counteracted by the activity itself, for example it doesn’t cost money to help clear a local path, yet you are exercising at the same time."
Researchers found that the average Brit makes two excuses a day to get them out of doing something they don’t fancy.
And excuses are most likely to be made for not answering phone calls, with the top pleas being ‘I didn’t hear my phone ring’, ‘I didn’t have any signal’ or even that their battery was flat.
Many also justify not responding to texts or emails by claiming not to have received them or that they were in the middle of something.
Instead of heading out for a walk or jog, more than a fifth claims ‘they’ll go tomorrow’, while 22% say they ‘haven’t got time’.
Illness, injury and even having no-one to go with are also among the popular reasons for avoiding any kind of physical activity.
Lateness leads to excuses such as ‘traffic was bad’, ‘my car wouldn’t start’ or ‘my alarm didn’t go off’ while one in four find excuses to get out of being active or heading to the gym.
A quarter of Brits even admitted to regularly coming up with reasons to get out of meeting their friends by making out they have other plans, they are too tired and need a night in, or that they don’t have any money.
Other things that often lead to excuses include not doing the housework, not eating healthily, not saving money and paying bills late.
Not walking the dog, avoiding extra work or meetings and even not giving to charity also see Brits justifying their actions.
Researchers also found that we are most likely to make excuses to our friends, followed by our partner and colleagues.
But 41% of people admit they make too many excuses, while 23% have even been caught out trying to get out of something.
It also emerged that the average Brit will make four excuses a week just to get out of exercising or being active, with Monday the most likely day of the week to try and dodge activity.
And 44% admit they are becoming more likely to try and get out of being active as they get older.
Almost half also justify a lack of exercise by saying they believe doing the housework counts as being active, while another 43% consider running after the children to be enough.
MOST COMMON EXCUSES
1. I didn’t hear my phone ring
2. I never received your email
3. I didn’t get your text
4. I’ll do it tomorrow/I’ll go tomorrow
5. I haven’t got time
6. I’m too busy
7. I haven’t got any money
8. I had no signal
9. I’ve got stuff to do
10. My battery was flat
11. It’s too late
12. I was in the middle of something
13. I’ve got other plans
14. My alarm didn’t go off
15. It’s in the post
16. Traffic was bad
17. It’s raining
18. I’m tired to go on a walk
19. I didn’t realise what day it was
20. I need a night in
21. It’s too cold to go on a walk
22. I overslept
23. I was in a meeting
24. I left you a message
25. I was on the other line
26. I lost your number
27. I don’t give to charity
28. Car wouldn’t start
29. I’m not drinking
30. The cheque is in the post
TOP THINGS WE MAKE EXCUSES FOR
1. Not answering phone calls
2. Not going out with mates
3. Not going to the gym/exercising
4. Not making a phone call
5. Not answering texts
6. Being late
7. Not doing house work
8. Not answering emails
9. Spending money
10. Not eating healthily
11. Getting out of a work night out
12. Not going out for a walk
13. Not saving money
14. Not travelling to see friends
15. Paying bills late
16. Not walking the dog
17. Getting out of a work meeting
18. Not going to a family event/dinner
19. Going home early from work
20. Forgetting someone’s birthday
21. Not giving to charity
22. Being late for a night out
23. Not calling grandparents/parents
24. Not attending a Dr’s or dentist appointment
25. Being late for a family visit
26. Not getting a round in
27. Not chipping into work collections
28. Not making a tea round
29. Not going to visit grandparents
30. Not paying back money you owe
TOP EXCUSES FOR NOT BEING ACTIVE
1. I’m tired
2. I’m too busy
3. I’m ill
4. It’s too cold
5. It’s raining
6. I’m injured
7. I’ll go tomorrow
8. I can’t afford it
9. I need an early night
10. I’ve already done something this week
