Not every gift you get this holiday season is going to make you leap into the air like you’re starring in a ‘80s Toyota commercial. Occasionally you might receive some truly inappropriate, ill-conceived, or tacky presents—items that make you wonder if the gift-giver has ever even met you before. Random, ill-fitting clothing, half-eaten food, literal trash; it’s enough to make you seethe, “ No, you shouldn’t have. You really shouldn’t have” between gritted teeth.
We asked friends and co-workers about the worst gift they’ve had the displeasure to unwrap. Here’s what they said:
“Booze-filled chocolates. I was five.” - Liz, 29
“Fugly necklace boyfriend bought from casino.” - Courtney, 26
“Was re-gifted a broken popcorn maker.” - Billy, 25
“A used copy of People magazine.” - Alia, 30
“Jumpstart cables for my new car.” - Livia, 29
“Dog shampoo for my own hair.” - Stephanie, 27
“Gameboy game. (Didn't own a Gameboy.)” - Maria, 34
“Ugly shirt with detachable Velcro letters.” - Jenna, 29
“At work: white elephant Squatty Potty.” - Allegra, 25
“Fat analyzing scale for 16th birthday.” - Megan, 33
“A used bottle of nail polish.” - Tanya, 33
“Socks when everyone got Game Boys.” - Chris, 37
“In junior high, a jump rope.” - Nicole, 35
“A thighmaster from my kid brother.” - Carie, 41
“A massive Santa ornament. I'm Jewish.” - Chelsea, 32
“Plaster cast of an ex-boyfriend’s hand.” - Kelly, 33
“Half-eaten heart cookie on Valentine’s Day.” - Julia, 26
“Broken Halloween salt and pepper shakers.” - Corey, 31
“Steve Urkel shirt. I wore glasses.” - Mike, 37
“Guidebook on sorting your life out.” - Nicola, 33
“A set of partially-consumed bitters.” - Shawnté, 39
“Got a vape pen. Don’t vape.” - Ellie, 34
“My mom just got me tweezers.” - Kari, 22
“From my boyfriend: a bread loaf.” - Laurenne, 37
“Floor-length pink flannel granny nightgown.” - Brianna, 37
“Inexplicably, an entire bag of scrunchies.” - Beth, 32
“Pregnancy test from my mother in-law.” - Kate, 36
“Sugar-free black-bean 'chocolate' cake.” - Molly, 28
“Picked from trash. ‘Better than nothing.’” - Alice, 34
“Pair of white XL granny panties.” - Amy, 25
“Fish tank and accessories. No fish.” - Erika, 36
“Barbies from grandma. I was seventeen.” - Ana, 26
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