Because just straight up telling them is boring! (Picture: Getty Images)

It’s the holiday season, and any grown-ups out there know what that means.

Gone are our wish lists and letters for Santa — they’ve been replaced with links to products sent to our partners on WhatsApp while they’re in the same room.

It doesn’t exactly scream Christmas spirit.

However, we’ve all been gifted too many itchy jumpers to leave things up to chance.

That’s why we chatted with a relationship expert to get her three top tips for hinting at what you’d like when you’re sick of spelling it out for them.

Who knows, maybe your partner will surprise you…

‘Just make sure this is done with a sense of playfulness and fun’ (Picture: Getty Images)

Broken something? Make sure they hear about it

While we’re not suggesting going around breaking your phone or favourite necklace if you want a new one, if you do have something that’s broken and needs replacing, don’t suffer in silence. Make it known!

Hayley adds: ‘If they end up deciding to fix your item for you instead, then this gift can be seen as an even sweeter and more thoughtful act of service.’

Send a calendar invite

Hayley Quinn, dating expert for Match, first suggests sending them a calendar reminder for when and where they can buy your gift, but not exactly what said gift is.

Think of it as a bit like a riddle for them to figure out.

‘This works well if you’re happy to be the organiser of the partnership,’ Hayley adds. ‘However be careful not to over-manage your partner, and tread carefully if you’d actually like them to make the effort in the future, as they might get used to being stage managed by you.’

Leave a tab open on their computer

Rather than just sending them the link, be a bit more sneaky with it and leave the page with what you want in a tab on their computer instead.

‘Just make sure this is done with a sense of playfulness and fun,’ Hayley says, ‘rather than micromanagement.’

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Because just straight up telling them is boring!