The top 10 ways dads show love from doing DIY, to paying dinner bills and sending an iconic emoji

The Sun

06-06-2025

Dads prefer to show their affection by paying for meals, fixing things around the house – and the thumbs-up emoji.
A poll of 2,000 adults revealed 49 per cent reckon their dad would describe himself as 'not good at emotional stuff'.
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Instead, lending tools, helping with house moves, and checking the tyres and oil in cars were other ways dads show their affection.
It also emerged 35 per cent don't think their father is good at dealing with emotions – with 14 per cent claiming they have never hugged their father.
A spokesperson from Funky Pigeon, which has created a quiz where you can test how fluent you are in 'Dad Speak' and commissioned the research, said: 'Sometimes it can be hard to show real emotion.
'For many of us, our dads grew up in a world where expressing emotion wasn't always encouraged - where a pat on the back might've stood in for 'I love you', and a raised eyebrow counted as a heartfelt pep talk.
'Times are changing, and while some dads still find it hard to open up, we're seeing more and more moments where that emotional armour slips - a quiet tear at a wedding, a thumbs-up that means the world.
'These gestures might be subtle, but they speak volumes.'
The study also revealed 19 per cent of those polled have never told their father they love them – and the same percentage have never had a text exchange with their old man.
Nearly three in 10 (29 per cent) have also never heard their dad day 'I love you' to them, although women are slightly more likely to hear it than men.
Another 29 per cent would find it emotional if their dad said, out of the blue, he was proud of them, according to the OnePoll.com data.
But some of the most common phrases people do hear from their dad included 'You'll be alright', 'Need anything?' and 'Keep going'.
It also emerged 51 per cent believe their father is not particularly affectionate physically, if at all.
However, it's not a one-way street, as 25 per cent never ask their dad about his feelings, with 49 per cent rarely or never indulging in a proper heart to heart with him.
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A third went on to describe their father's texting style as 'brief', while nine per cent find them littered with emojis.
Funky Pigeon's spokesperson added: 'We often joke about the 'dad grunt' — that universal sound that somehow covers everything from 'I'm proud of you' to 'don't forget your coat'.
'But behind the jokes is a real truth: dads feel just as much as anyone else, even if they don't always have the words to say it.
'There's something incredibly moving about seeing a dad trying to express what's in his heart, especially if it doesn't come naturally.
'Whether it's awkward hugs, long silences, or carefully chosen words, those small moments of effort are often the most meaningful of all.'