IF you know someone who insists that they don't smoke or drink, isn't in any personal debt, and talks smoothly about their age and number of partners, well ... they're probably lying.

A new national survey says many of us tell whoppers about key matters. We are, however, in good company: Bill Clinton lied about his relationship with Monica Lewinsky, Boris Becker and Eddie Murphy were economical with the truth about their love lives, and Fern Britton attributed her weight-loss to her diet, rather than a gastric band.

Not surprisingly in these cash-strapped times, many of us lie about how much money we owe.

Nearly a third (29%) of the 1028 people aged between 16 and 64 surveyed admitted as much.

The Truth Be Told' survey, commissioned by Edinburgh-based online dating site, benaughty.com, said the next-topic for porkies (28%) concerned how much we drink and smoke.

Third, with just under a quarter of votes (24%), were lies about how much we weigh.

Other subjects that attracted more lies than truth, included age, salary, number of sexual partners, hobbies, job, qualifications, travel experience and height.

While just one in seven men lie about their weight, more than one in three women are happy to knock off a few pounds.

Women lie slightly more than men when it comes to debt (30% vs 28%), but are similar when lying about their smoking and drinking habits (28% and 27%).

Averil Leimon, psychologist at leadership coaching firm White Water Strategies, said: "People are pressured to lie in order to make themselves appear more impressive.

"In today's society and in business, people are measured by whether they conform to certain ideals. As such, people often feel it necessary to present a more idealised version of who they are in order to appear more attractive, more professional and generally create a positive impression."

We asked, what, if anything, do you lie about?

If truth be told, what little white lies are you most guilty of . . .
MICHAEL WONG, 20, Paisley: I lie about how much time I spend on Bebo - and about how skint I am!	JANET HARPER, nurse, Hamilton: My age is probably what I would lie about the most.	AIDAN INNES, 23, Airdrie: The thing I exaggerate about the most is how good I am at football.	KEN LITTLE, 58, retired, City Centre: I probably lie about how much I drink more than anything else, I would say.

GEORGE FINAN, 49, student, Glasgow: I probably do exaggerate about my qualifications.

SHEENA HARPER, retired, Possilpark: I think the thing that I exaggerate most about would be my age.

ARCHIE BERRIE, 61, retired, City Centre: In the past I probably exaggerated about my job and what I did.

CAROLINE CLARK, 35, secretary, Wishaw: The thing I lie about the most would be my weight.