Some things are just part of being human.
There are plenty of awkward, silly, slightly gross, or totally unnecessary things we all do but somehow act like we’re above. Nobody wants to admit them out loud, but if we’re honest, we’ve all been there. So, in the spirit of calling it like it is, here are 16 painfully relatable things literally everyone has done… even if they pretend otherwise.
1. Checked the fridge multiple times hoping new snacks appear
You open it once, find nothing exciting, close it… and then come back three minutes later just in case. It’s not that you expect a lasagne to materialise. You’re just holding out hope the snack gods have finally delivered. Spoiler: they never do, but we keep checking anyway.
There’s something strangely comforting about staring into a fridge, even when you know you’ve got half a lemon, three sauces, and a tub of butter pretending to be useful. Still, we stand there, contemplating our life choices, waiting for inspiration (or a rogue snack) to strike.
2. Pretended not to see someone so you didn’t have to say hi
You clock them across the street and instantly look down at your phone like you’re reading urgent life-saving information. It’s not personal—you just weren’t prepared for small talk, or you’re wearing pyjamas in public. Either way, the fake scroll begins.
It’s a subtle art: eyes slightly averted, walking pace adjusted, and the occasional fake text tap to sell the moment. We all do it, and we all know when someone’s doing it to us, too. It’s basically the unspoken dance of modern social avoidance.
3. Lied about watching a particular film just to avoid judgement
Source: Unsplash Someone starts passionately quoting a film you’ve never seen, and instead of admitting it, you nod along and laugh like you totally remember that scene. Deep down, you’re just hoping they don’t ask a follow-up question. You’ll Google the plot later.
It’s not even that you didn’t want to see it—you just never got around to it. But rather than deal with someone’s shocked gasp of “You’ve NEVER seen it?”, you go along with the lie and mentally add it to the list of films you’re “definitely watching soon.”
4. Replayed a fake argument in your head like it was the Oscars
You imagine someone says something rude, and suddenly, you’re delivering a flawless comeback with perfect timing, tone, and impact. None of it actually happened, but in your mind, you absolutely won. Twice.
Whether it’s something you wish you’d said five years ago or a totally imaginary fight with a colleague who mildly annoyed you, these internal monologues can spiral fast. And somehow, they always end with you dropping the mic and walking away in slow motion.
5. Tried to discreetly sniff yourself to check for B.O.
There’s no graceful way to do it, but you give it a go anyway. The shirt tug, the pretend scratch, the stretch-then-sniff move—you’ve tried them all. Half the time, you don’t even smell anything weird. But what if you do? And then begins the subtle panic. Did anyone else notice? Should I reapply deodorant? Is it too late? The self-sniff moment is a daily gamble we all quietly take, especially after public transport or a suspiciously hot meeting room.
6. Watched someone’s Instagram Story after telling them you were too busy
You said you couldn’t meet because you were swamped with work. Then you mindlessly tapped through their story ten minutes later. Now you’re hoping they don’t check the views or, if they do, they believe you were just multitasking very responsibly.
In your defence, scrolling Instagram doesn’t count as being available, right? It’s background activity. Emotional reset. A mental stretch. Still, that moment of guilt when you realise they posted something five minutes ago, and you’re the first view… awkward.
7. Closed a tab to seem productive when someone walked by
You were halfway down a deep dive on hedgehogs wearing hats or looking up holidays you absolutely can’t afford. Then someone walks past and—bam—the tab is gone, replaced with a spreadsheet you didn’t even remember opening. It’s the digital equivalent of pretending to read a book upside down when the teacher walks over. We all like to curate our work image, and sometimes that means hiding the fact you just spent 20 minutes researching why ducks waddle.
8. Judged someone for doing the exact thing you secretly do
They talk too much about their dog. You roll your eyes—while your own dog has its own Instagram account and a wardrobe. The hypocrisy? Absolutely real, but also deeply human. It’s easier to spot certain behaviours in other people, especially when we haven’t fully accepted them in ourselves. So yes, you might judge someone’s three-hour skincare routine—but only because you do yours in silence and shame at 11pm.
9. Pretended to be asleep to avoid something
The classic “accidental nap” has saved many from unloading dishwashers, answering calls, or watching someone’s terrible YouTube recommendation. All you have to do is close your eyes and breathe a little heavier. Eventually, they give up and you “wake up” just in time to say, “Oh no! Did I miss it?” Yes. Yes, you did. And you’re not even sorry.
10. Used Google to check something you really should’ve known
You’re in a group chat, everyone’s talking about taxes or politics or mortgages, and you quietly Google “What is a fixed-rate mortgage” like your life depends on it. You nod along, saying “yeah, totally,” while reading a beginner’s guide under the table. We’ve all done it. No shame. In fact, Google has basically become our brain’s backup hard drive at this point. If it gets too quiet in a conversation, half the room is probably mid-search.
11. Said “you too!” when it made no sense
“Enjoy your flight!” “You too!” You both pause. It’s too late to fix it. You stare at the floor and hope they forget your face forever. Welcome to the most universal awkward moment of all time. These tiny verbal misfires haunt people for years. Doesn’t matter if you’re eloquent and well-spoken 99% of the time—you’ll never forget the time you wished your dentist a good weekend… on a Tuesday morning.
12. Watched something ‘ironically’ and got hooked
You started watching a cringey show just for fun, and before you knew it, you were emotionally invested and reading fan theories at 2am. You told everyone it was “so bad it’s good,” but deep down, you’re genuinely obsessed. It starts with ironic distance, but by episode three you’re defending characters like they’re real people and cancelling plans to see what happens next. We’ve all fallen victim. And honestly? Sometimes the worst shows are the best comfort watches.
13. Rehearsed voicemails before leaving them
Before you speak, you mutter the whole message to yourself once or twice. Then you mess up anyway. Then you panic, hang up, and spend five minutes wondering if they’ll hear your heavy breathing and think you’re unwell. Voicemails are weirdly high-pressure for something so outdated. It’s like a one-person podcast you didn’t want to record. And somehow, despite years of experience speaking, you forget how words work every single time.
14. Let something fall, then looked around like it wasn’t you
You knock over a display in a shop or drop your phone in a quiet room and instantly glance around like you’re just an innocent bystander. “Who did that?” you say, trying to blend in with the chaos you caused. It’s the oldest trick in the book. Delay eye contact, act surprised, and if all else fails—walk away slowly. It works just enough to keep doing it every time something loudly crashes to the floor.
15. Had a fake argument in the shower where you destroyed someone
That moment you think of the perfect comeback—ten hours too late. So naturally, you build a whole fake conversation where you absolutely demolish them. It ends with them speechless and you feeling oddly accomplished. The shower is basically the arena for imaginary confrontations. You win every debate, every roast, every awkward encounter. No one else heard it, but you still walk out feeling powerful.
16. Pretended not to care while obsessively caring
You brush something off like it didn’t bother you, then spiral about it for the next two hours in your head. A weird comment, a missed invite, someone’s tone—it all gets analysed like a cold case file. We all want to look chill. Unbothered. Unphased. But the truth is, half of us are lying in bed re-reading messages like they’re cryptic clues, trying to figure out if someone secretly hates us or just used a weird emoji.
