The 10 weirdest excuses people have used to dodge a night out

Here is a list of top 10 most extreme excuses to get out of a night out, used by a third of Brits at least once a month:

1. My hamster is ill

2. It’s my goldfish’s birthday

3. I’m stuck on the roof of my house

4. We’re trying for a baby

5. Falls and injuries/broken arm or leg

6. I’ve been arrested

7. Couldn’t find my hairspray

8. Abducted by aliens

9. Said I had found out I was pregnant... when I wasn’t

10. Was part of a hostage situation

Spending money, bumping into people we don’t want to see and travelling to and from the venue are cited as the worst things about going out.

And the main reason that we accept invitations to events we have no intention of attending… not hurting people’s feelings, according to nearly half (43%) of those questioned.

But are we proud of our anti-social habits? Apparently not. Almost a fifth of us (17%) have pretended to have gone out, when we actually stayed at home.

Half of Brits (50%) admit to ditching their friends ahead of a night out in favour of a takeaway and a box set.

More than one in ten (12%) admit to lying to get out of plans at least once a fortnight, with almost a third (30%) making up excuses more than once a month, according to the study commissioned by on-demand restaurant delivery service, Deliveroo.

Film, food and booze all top the list of the ingredients for the nation’s perfect night in - and when it comes to company, 15% of us would prefer to spend it alone, whilst a more sociable 52% would opt to chill out with their other half over anyone else.

Dan Warne from Deliveroo said: “We’ve discovered that people all over the country are bailing on their social plans at the last minute, instead opting for a quiet night at home, in front of the TV. And the excuses we’re coming up with are pretty startling.”

What are the real reasons we lie to get out of a night out? Here are top 10 most common excuses:

1. Illness

2. Other plans

3. I can’t make it anymore

4. I don’t want to go

5. I have to look after my pet

6. I have to work late

7. I have to get up early the next day

8. Family emergency

9. I’ve had an argument with my other half

10. No excuse – I just don’t turn up