‘Don’t worry, you’ll find someone’ (Picture: Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Are you one of those smug loved-up people who offers pitying comments or patronising advice to your single friends?

Stop right there. Please.

The past 12 months have not been a great time to be single.

What doesn’t help matters is well-meaning friends doling out unwanted relationship advice – and yet that keeps on coming.

Research by Badoo has found that 70% of singles find it annoying when friends or family try to give them dating tips, while 60% feel like they have to make up excuses for why they’re still single.

There’s a lot of pressure to couple up, even in 2021, as though being alone is the worst thing in the world.

And in January, that pressure ramps up, thanks to the continuation of the winter cuffing season, all the New Year, new me stuff, and the fallout of seeing everyone getting all cute and cosy over Christmas.

62% of those surveyed by Badoo said they find being single in January harder than other times of the year, with 50% even saying they’re tempted to text their ex (note: do not do this).

When you’re up against that, the last thing you want to hear is the same old platitudes from your coupled-up mates – and there are some common sayings that are especially aggravating.