A lot of people seem to have a very loose relationship with the truth.
Whether they’re trying to spare someone’s feelings or cover up bad behaviour, or they’re just too cowardly to say what they really mean, it’s usually pretty easy to spot a dishonest person. That’s because nine times out of 10, they tend to use a lot of the same canned responses when they’re lying. If you hear any of these, you can pretty much bet what comes next is a bunch of rubbish.
1. “To be completely honest…”
Source: Unsplash The moment someone starts with this, you know they’ve probably been anything but honest until now. It’s like they’re trying to hit a reset button on all their previous stories. They use this phrase to make what comes next sound more believable than everything else they’ve said. Watch how they suddenly sit up straighter and make intense eye contact while saying it.
2. “Trust me, I would never…”
This usually comes right before describing exactly what they’ve already done. They’re trying to remind you of their supposed character rather than address the actual situation. The phrase pops up most when they’re feeling cornered about something specific. Notice how they often follow this with stories about their past good behaviour.
3. “You can ask anyone.”
They name-drop potential witnesses who they know you’ll never actually check with. It’s their way of adding fake backup to their story without risking actual verification. They’ll get oddly specific about who you can ask, but vague about how to contact these people. The funny thing is, they get nervous if you actually say you’ll take them up on checking.
4. “I’m not sure exactly when…”
Their timeline gets mysteriously fuzzy right when the details really matter. Suddenly, they can’t remember whether something happened on Tuesday or Friday, even though they remembered other tiny details perfectly. They keep the time vague to avoid getting caught in specific lies. Pay attention to how they remember exact details about unimportant parts but get cloudy on the crucial bits.
5. “Why would I lie about that?”
This classic deflection moves the focus from their story to their supposed motives. They try to make questioning them seem ridiculous rather than answering direct questions. It’s their go-to phrase when they feel backed into a corner. They’ll often throw this out with a nervous laugh and quick subject change.
6. “You probably just misunderstood…”
They try to make you doubt your own memory or understanding of events. Suddenly, everything becomes a case of misinterpretation rather than dishonesty. They’ll explain away clear statements as miscommunications. Watch how they start rewording past conversations to mean something completely different.
7. “I was going to tell you…”
This appears the moment they get caught in something they definitely weren’t planning to share. They scramble to make it seem like disclosure was always part of their plan. The timing of their supposed planned revelation keeps shifting as they talk. Their story about when they were ‘going to’ tell you changes with each questioning.
8. “You’re remembering it wrong.”
They try to rewrite history right to your face, telling you your clear memories aren’t accurate. Their version of events keeps shifting slightly with each retelling. They get weirdly passionate about correcting your ‘wrong’ memories. Listen for how their own version of events changes subtly each time they tell it.
9. “I would’ve but…”
Excuses pile up about why they couldn’t do the right thing, each one more elaborate than the last. They create these complex chains of events that supposedly prevented them from being honest. The obstacles in their stories get more dramatic with each telling. You’ll notice new details appear every time they explain why they ‘couldn’t’ do something.
10. “Everyone knows I always…”
They appeal to their general reputation instead of addressing specific actions. Their supposed consistent behaviour becomes their defence against current accusations. They talk about their usual habits rather than what actually happened this time. Notice how they try to gather invisible public support for their character.
11. “I swear on my…”
They start bringing sacred things into their promises, swearing on family members or precious objects. The bigger the lie, the more important the thing they swear on becomes. Their promises get more dramatic as their stories get shakier. Watch how quickly they escalate from simple promises to swearing on everything they hold dear.
12. “You’re the only one who thinks…”
They try to isolate you as the only doubter, making you feel like you’re being unreasonable. Out of nowhere, they’ve got this invisible army of people who supposedly believe them completely. They create this imaginary consensus against your doubts. Listen for how they can never quite name all these people who supposedly agree with them.
13. “I’m offended you would even…”
They flip the situation by acting hurt that you’d doubt them, making their indignation the main issue. Their emotional response becomes a smokescreen for avoiding actual questions. The more you press, the more wounded they act. Watch how quickly they try to make you feel guilty for asking reasonable questions.
14. “It’s not what you think…”
They start explaining before you even say what you think, jumping to defend against things you haven’t accused them of yet. Their denials reveal what they’re actually worried about being caught doing. The speed of their explanation often gives away exactly what they were up to. Notice what specific things they rush to deny before you even mention them.
15. “I have nothing to hide…”
This classic line usually comes right before they hide something major. They make a big show of being open while carefully steering around certain topics. Their supposed transparency becomes more theatrical the bigger the lie. Watch how they overcompensate with unnecessary details about irrelevant things.
16. “Believe what you want…”
This last-resort phrase comes out when their lies start falling apart. They try to end the conversation by acting like they’re above it all. It’s their way of giving up without admitting anything. Listen for this when they realise you’re not buying their previous excuses, and they’ve run out of new ones to try.
