Chat up lines... what do women REALLY think?

In an advert on TV at the moment a young man in a pub, short of a suitable chat up line, gets loads of ideas by texting his mates. But do men really use chat up lines? And does 'chatting up' work?

Most chat up lines are desperately cheesy. Some are hilariously funny. Others are downright offensive. So what do the ladies say?

Lavinia from Yorkshire insists that chat up lines always put her off. "The thing is, most men only seem to use chat up lines when they're with their friends." she explains. "There's nothing worse than being approached by a bloke who is being watched by a bunch of giggling mates. When he comes out with something lame like I seem to have lost my 'phone number. Can I have yours instead? it's just embarrassing. I feel as though he's taking the mickey out of me, which doesn't exactly encourage me to say yes to a date!"

Other women like chat up lines simply because they're funny. All you have to do is glance at the lonely heart columns in the papers to see that a GSOH -a good sense of humour – comes top of most women's list. Being funny is highly desirable. Very few people are 100% comfortable approaching a stranger they find attractive and humour's a great way to break down barriers.

Susanne from Dublin agrees. “I met my husband in a bar. I wish I could remember his chat up line – it was so long ago – but I do remember it made me literally cry with laughter. It broke the ice and we spent the rest of the evening talking. And laughing... he still makes me howl now, twenty five years later!"

Amber from Poole reckons that anyone who plucks up the courage to approach someone they've never met before deserves credit. "I know the sexes are supposed to be equal these days but it's still mostly down to blokes to do the running.” she says. “If someone comes up to me and delivers the all time cheesiest chat up line I have to admire him. I wouldn't dare do it myself, if the boot was on the other foot."

Offensive chat up lines rarely work. Not many women like being hit with a blatantly sexual – or sexist – chat up line from some stranger, no matter how good looking they are. “It's just nasty” confirms Susanne. "It shows a massive lack of respect and I'd run a mile if anyone tried it on me!"

So be funny, charming and disarming and – under some circumstances - your chat up line might just work. What circumstances? When the lady in question actually fancies you. If she doesn't, even the finest chat up line in the universe probably won't win you a date!