It’s not always easy to tell when someone’s lying. People who are masters at deceit won’t slip up easily, so you’ve got to keep your eyes and ears sharpened to spot the little clues they’re giving you. If someone’s trying to trap you in a web of lies, they’ll usually display these 15 behaviors — beware!
1. Their Words And Actions Clash.
When someone’s honest, their actions and words will align perfectly. It’s like smiling while saying “yes.” If there’s a disconnect between what they do and what they say, it’s a red flag. For example, if they’re saying something sweet but their smile isn’t reaching their eyes, that’s a sign they’re lying.
2. They Distract You With Details.
Someone who’s being deceptive will pepper their conversation with lots of details you really don’t need to know. This is done to distract you or bore you so you forget or don’t care about what they were meant to tell you in the first place. This way, they can pull a fast one without getting caught.
3. They Mansplain To The Max.
We all know mansplainers are annoying, but sometimes liars will use some of their tactics. They’ll try to explain complex ideas to you when it’s totally unnecessary because you already understand the concept. It’s done to waffle their way through a difficult conversation and seem like they know what they’re talking about.
4. They Turn The Tables.
As an act of defiance when they’re put on the spot, deceptive people might try to flip things on you so they can make you out to be the bad guy. This way, they can play the victim and make you doubt yourself while completely forgetting about (or missing out on) the fact that they lied.
5. They Pause Before Answering.
When you ask a liar an uncomfortable question, they might take a moment to pause before answering. They’re trying to use those precious seconds to formulate an answer so they can fool you. It’s clear the gears of their minds are turning because they’ve been put on the spot. Don’t fall for it!
6. Their Vocal Pitch Changes.
Their voice might sound more shrill or become lower, but only at certain times, like when their stories aren’t matching up. This is a tell-tale sign that they’re not being honest. They can’t keep an even tone because they’re nervous knowing that they’re trying to deceive you and you might call them out on it.
7. They Repeat The Question.
To deal with tough questions they don’t want to answer, a deceptive person might use another delaying tactic: repeating the question back to you to buy themselves some time. For example, if you say, “Where were you last week Thursday?” they’ll say, “You’re asking me where I was last Thursday?” They heard you the first time!
8. Their Palms Are Faced Away From You.
They might position their hands so that their palms are facing away from you. This is a body language cue that they’re probably not even aware they’re giving, but it indicates that they’re not open about information. The same goes for if they bite their lip a lot, cover their face, fidget, and avert their eyes.
9. They Insist They’re Being Honest.
Someone who’s lying might constantly tell you that they’re being honest, but why would they have to do that if they were telling you the truth? So, look out for signs such as someone saying, “I’m gonna be honest,” or “Honestly…” during conversation. It seems they doth protest too much.
10. They Overdo Their Facial Movements.
People who tend to lie will try to keep their facial muscles relaxed, instead of rigid, which can be a sign they’re nervous. However, this (and often does) can backfire. They might try too hard to look calm, and make over-the-top facial expressions like smiling, frowning, or looking around the room (which they also do to try to jog their brains to think of ways to cover their tracks).
11. Their Answers Seem Rehearsed.
If someone’s a chronic liar, they’ll generally try to avoid being in situations in which they can be caught out. They practice their replies to questions beforehand so they know exactly what to say when someone pulls them up on their behavior or something they said that wasn’t true. They think that if they don’t pause before launching into a perfect, smooth answer, they’ll come off as more believable.
12. They Make You Feel Bad For Calling Them Out.
Have you ever asked someone a question and they refused to answer? Instead, they make you feel like a terrible person for even asking. It’s a red flag! They might say something like, “Ugh, not this again!” or “Are you really asking me that?” to make you backtrack. That’s just because they’re trying to deceive you and they realize you’re onto them!
13. They Avoid Personal Pronouns.
An interesting sign that someone’s lying to you is if they don’t use personal pronouns in their verbal and written communications. So, they might say something like, “Busy at work” instead of “I’m busy at work” when taking a rain-check on your plans. They avoid saying “I” as a way to avoid responsibility. It’s a strange subconscious habit that speaks volumes even if they’re unaware of what they’re doing.
14. They Display Microexpressions.
You have to stare at the person during conversation to note these, but you’ll be amazed by what you see. Microexpressions are short facial expressions that reveal someone’s real feelings. An example is if the person displays a flash of annoyance in their eyes or they have a tight smile instead of a relaxed one. Blink and you’ll miss it!
15. They Move Their Hands After Speaking.
While fidgeting is usually a sign of lying, another body language cue is if the person gesticulates wildly after speaking. This happens because they’re dealing with too much mentally and they’re desperately trying to keep their stories straight and trying to appear chilled. After they finish their lie, they suddenly become more expressive. How sneaky!
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