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18 Terrible Lies Married Couples Often Tell Each Other

Updated on September 24, 2025 by TMM Staff · Lifestyle

A person holding a smartphone while wearing a white sweater.
©Julio Lopez/Unsplash.com

Marriage comes with plenty of shared laughs, inside jokes, and yeah… some fibs that both partners toss around like confetti. Nobody wants to start World War III over a tiny thing, so a few “harmless” white lies creep in. But these little tales can add up fast, and before long, you’re living in a sitcom where everyone’s improvising. Let’s talk about the greatest hits of married life fiction and maybe laugh a bit while we’re at it.

Table of Contents

Toggle
  • 1. “I’m fine, really.”
  • 2. “I love your cooking!”
  • 3. “I didn’t notice you bought something new.”
  • 4. “I didn’t forget our anniversary.”
  • 5. “I don’t mind your family at all.”
  • 6. “I always listen to you.”
  • 7. “I always remember where I put things.”
  • 8. “I’m not jealous.”
  • 9. “I’ll fix it tomorrow.”
  • 10. “I’m totally paying attention to the movie.”
  • 11. “I never checked your phone.”
  • 12. “I didn’t finish the ice cream.”
  • 13. “I never look at your old texts.”
  • 14. “I don’t mind your hobbies.”
  • 15. “I didn’t spend that much.”
  • 16. “I didn’t tell my friends about our fight.”
  • 17. “I don’t have a favorite kid.”
  • 18. “I never think about my ex.”

1. “I’m fine, really.”

A woman sitting alone at a table, holding a mug and looking thoughtful.
©Getty Images/Unsplash.com

Plenty of spouses have pulled this classic when things feel tense. Saying “I’m fine” keeps the peace on the surface, but the storm clouds usually tell a different story. Maybe it’s frustration about chores, a forgotten anniversary, or someone eating the last slice of pizza.

What really happens is the other partner tiptoes around like the living room turned into a minefield. Everyone knows “I’m fine” rarely means fine. It means something needs talking about, even if it takes an extra cup of coffee first.

2. “I love your cooking!”

A person preparing pasta salad meals in containers with vegetables and chickpeas.
©Karolina Grabowska/Unsplash.com

Dinner hits the table, and suddenly it tastes like… well, something unique. Instead of being honest, a spouse might grin and say, “Wow, delicious.” No one wants to crush someone’s feelings over a burnt lasagna or oddly sweet chicken.

Later, though, it can spark a kitchen mystery. Why does this meal keep showing up every other week? Because someone lied once, and now you’re stuck eating it forever.

3. “I didn’t notice you bought something new.”

A person holding several shopping bags in one hand.
©Getty Images/Unsplash.com

New shoes or a fancy jacket appear out of thin air, and the first instinct is to play dumb. Pretending not to notice keeps things chill, especially when budgets come up.

The lie works until a closet door opens, and a whole pile of “oh, these old things?” comes tumbling out. Suddenly, it’s a fashion crime scene.

4. “I didn’t forget our anniversary.”

A close-up of an anniversary cake with fruit and a “Happy Anniversary” topper.
©tanmay/Unsplash.com

Couples have pulled this one since forever. A partner misses the date, realizes it’s too late, then acts like everything’s under control. “Of course I remembered” comes out while they scramble to find flowers before the stores close.

The funny part? Nobody buys it. You can spot that panic smile from a mile away.

5. “I don’t mind your family at all.”

A family sitting at a table while someone serves a dish of food.
©Getty Images/Unsplash.com

When in-laws bring their opinions, cooking styles, and unsolicited advice, a spouse sometimes fakes complete harmony. Saying “oh no, they’re great” keeps arguments away during holiday dinners.

Meanwhile, inside their head, they’re running an entire comedy routine about Uncle Joe’s conspiracy theories at the table.

6. “I always listen to you.”

A woman and a man sitting closely, engaged in conversation.
©Getty Images/Unsplash.com

Plenty of couples toss this one around when someone zones out mid-story. The spouse nods like a pro, claiming they caught every word.

Later, when details come back up, that same spouse sits there, sweating bullets, because they have no clue what was said about the neighbor’s cat or next weekend’s plans.

7. “I always remember where I put things.”

A person holding a TV remote while sitting on a couch.
©Curated Lifestyle/Unsplash.com

Lost car keys? Missing TV remote? A spouse claims they never misplace anything, even while searching under couch cushions like a detective solving a crime.

The reality? Half the household gets turned upside down before someone finds the keys in the fridge or the remote in the bathroom sink for some reason nobody can explain.

8. “I’m not jealous.”

A couple sitting together on a couch, looking at a phone and smiling.
©Getty Images/Unsplash.com

Jealousy walks into marriages like an uninvited guest. A partner claims they feel nothing when someone flirts at a party, but their face tells another story.

The lie comes from wanting to seem easygoing, even as they eye-roll so hard they nearly see the back of their head.

9. “I’ll fix it tomorrow.”

A person lying under a sink with tools, working on plumbing repairs.
©Curated Lifestyle/Unsplash.com

Broken shelves, leaky faucets, and that squeaky door hinge. Every household has them. A spouse promises that tomorrow is the day things get repaired.

Months pass, the hinge squeaks louder, and eventually someone calls a professional while muttering about promises.

10. “I’m totally paying attention to the movie.”

A couple relaxing on a couch with one person sleeping under a yellow blanket.
©Getty Images/Unsplash.com

Couples start movies together, but one spouse drifts off into their phone or straight-up falls asleep. When questioned, they claim they’re following everything.

The next day, they ask who that main character even was. Suddenly, the movie review turns into a courtroom cross-examination.

11. “I never checked your phone.”

A couple lying in bed using their smartphones.
©Getty Images/Unsplash.com

Phone snooping becomes one of those “I would never” lies. Someone swears curiosity didn’t win, but that browser history or poorly closed message app gives it away.

The lie usually comes with an innocent smile, as if the phone magically unlocked itself out of nowhere.

12. “I didn’t finish the ice cream.”

A woman in bed holding a bucket of ice cream.
©Getty Images/Unsplash.com

The freezer door opens, the container’s empty, and a spouse swears they had nothing to do with it. Someone obviously inhaled it at midnight, but no one confesses.

It turns into dessert detective work, complete with accusations and sticky spoons found in the sink.

13. “I never look at your old texts.”

A person sitting on a bed holding a mug and a smartphone.
©Getty Images/Unsplash.com

Jealousy and curiosity make a dangerous combo. A spouse insists they never scrolled through old messages, even though they know suspiciously specific details about someone from years ago.

Suddenly, conversations from 2015 become today’s topic, leaving the accused looking like they saw a ghost.

14. “I don’t mind your hobbies.”

A trio of men on a golf course toasting with drinks.
©Sugar Golf/Unsplash.com

A partner says they adore the other’s hobby, whether it’s golf, video games, or fantasy football. Secretly, they count the hours until the noise stops.

The lie keeps peace while the hobby slowly takes over weekends, living rooms, and entire paychecks.

15. “I didn’t spend that much.”

An empty wallet being held open by someone.
©Yunus Tuğ/Unsplash.com

Spouses bend the truth when the credit card bill shows up. They swore a sale practically paid them to take it home.

The lie grows legs when delivery boxes start stacking like a fortress near the front door.

16. “I didn’t tell my friends about our fight.”

A woman whispering to another woman, who looks surprised.
©Getty Images/Unsplash.com

Somebody vents to their buddies, then swears everything stayed private. Later, hints slip out during game night, and suddenly the whole friend group knows someone forgot to pick up the kids.

It always ends with awkward smiles and lots of shrugging.

17. “I don’t have a favorite kid.”

A child showing flour-covered hands with excitement.
©Getty Images/Unsplash.com

Parents swear they love all kids equally, but actions sometimes tell a different story. Maybe one kid gets an extra scoop of ice cream or a little more patience during meltdowns.

The spouse claiming fairness does it with a straight face, while the other one notices the “favorite child” pattern every single time.

18. “I never think about my ex.”

A woman standing by a window holding a cup and looking outside.
©Milles Studio/Unsplash.com

A spouse says they never think about past relationships. Then a random song plays, and suddenly they hum along suspiciously well.

The lie isn’t always malicious, but it’s just human nature making things awkward while someone pretends the tune mean

Lifestyle

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About TMM Staff

The Modest Man staff writers are experts in men's lifestyle who love teaching guys how to live their best lives.

If an article is published under TMM Staff, that means multiple writers worked on it. For example, sometimes several of us have experience with a certain brand, so we collaborate to publish a more thorough review.

Or, if an article was originally written by one person, but then it was updated by someone else, we'll re-publish it under TMM Staff.

Remember: all of our articles (including those below) are written by real people with decades of combined experience in men's fashion and lifestyle topics.

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