Ideas please to politely/effectively refuse unwanted hugs?

Nice post Day6 ??

As I said.....British social stiffness could do with some loosening up!
Perhaps people see your look of absolute horror trisher as they approach you.

I don't think it's "Mediterranean" to hug. Most of the people I see when I'm on holiday greet each other with a formal handshake (even school children). The French do kiss on the cheek but I think that is mostly people they know well.

I am in a quandry. I am a hugger but I appreciate not all people want a hug.

We were at a funeral recently, a friend of OH's, and I hardly knew the deceased, never mind his relatives and friends. Every single person I spoke to (all strangers) including his widow, hugged me on saying goodbye.

I came away thinking what a warm and lovely gathering it had been. I wasn't at all offended and thought it nice to be included.

My hugs tend to be spontaneous. I tend to genuinely like everyone, unless they give me reason not to.

However, perhaps in future I will stand back and try to read a situation.

I love hugs

I don’t like all this hugging and kissing with all and sundry. I don’t even like it with family, except for children.

I like hugs, family, friends, neighbours etc, nothing like a hug or a kiss.I know it’s thought of as bit Mediterranean but
British social stiffness could do with a bit of loosening up.

Then again I was involved in the NHS so hugging was second nature to me
Ellanv
What has the NHS got to do with hugging?
Is it assumed that patients want to be hugged by the nursing and medical staff?
Surely treating patients with dignity and respect implies respecting boundaries.

I had a cataract operation under local. Someone asked me if I wanted them to hold my hand.
Noooooo! I’m a big girl, thank you.

If you go in to shake hands people will convert the handshake into an awkward handshake-hug hybrid.

Don't go in for a shake and you'll get less hugs

I don`t like hugging

Family & close friends only. I really do not like all this hugging & kissing with all and sundry, can't understand especially when you have just met someone, much prefer the formality of a handshake.

Hate it. I was brought up a Presbyterian.

"French kissing habit", sodapop?

Can't stand man hugs.

I'm not a casual hugger...they are very much reserved for nearest and dearest so at the first hint of a hug from someone new I too put out a hand for a quick shake and say something like....'Oh I'm not a hugger, not even with the children (a small white lie). As long as its all said with a smile and you are being genuinely friendly in all other ways I've not found it a problem.

Me too - a handshake on first meet usually lets people know you're not a hugger.
I don't hug and I certainly don't cheek kiss, or even air kiss.
Family is different.

I feel much the same with the French kissing habit. Grin and bear it so as not to offend anyone. Alternatively extend both hands to clasp that of the person you are greeting.

I'm not keen on anyone other than family giving a hug, the younger members do seem to happy to hug all when you meet them.
Though have to say it was nice a few weeks ago at nephews 30th birthday party to get a hug from some of the youngsters there (my youngest is same age so they share a large group of friends) even though I hadn't seen some of them since they were all at school together. Little me with lots of 6 foot plus lads, they all seem to get so tall these days!

That's what I do, M0nica.
I didn't realise it was becoming a fashion here.

Put a hand out to shake hands as soon as you think a hug is in the offing, or even if you think it might be. It seems to work.

I was hugged yesterday by someone who is related to my sil, she always does this the rare times we meet, yet we both know we are not close, nor will we ever be. I never instigate this and usually try to keep distance between us waving cheerily as we all say goodbye, but somehow once again, she crept up on me. Really wish she wouldnt.
I Love hugging my children and grandchildren, even close friends are ok, but not people I hardly know if at all and not people I hardly like.

Oh gosh, I hate these routine hugs! We had a new manager when I was working who hugged everyone. Then everyone started doing it, all the time, first thing in the morning, going home..... I think I used to sidestep, as it soon became known that “Dora doesn’t do hugs.” I think it’s nice when family do it, and my French family hug and kiss, even among males, but I don’t hug my friends. There again, I sometimes used to be the only one in a group at work who didn’t get a hug, then I used to feel a bit left out.....

I have never been a hugger but now I am on my own I sometimes wish someone would hug me (not strangers!)

I love to hug or be hugged by people I'm genuinely close to and care about but really dislike the full on embrace from people I barely know. I will try to avoid it by offering a hand to shake or side-stepping to pick up/put down my bag/scarf . As acquaintanceships evolve and become friendships, there seems to come a point where hugging is both acceptable and welcome and the body language or pheromones or something seem to mark the change so it is understood without ever being articulated.

I suppose a well timed sneeze might deter some people....???

Lol MawBroon, I agree.

I'm a hugger, from a family where hugs are freely given and accepted. Our two and three year olds hug each other routinely when they meet up.
I think it's easy to give out vibes to discourage unwanted hugs. I don't hug strangers, I only hug people I'm close to.