Ever felt a nagging doubt creeping in during a conversation that the other person might be full of crap? Your gut doesn’t usually lead you astray. While you can’t read their minds and know immediately if they’re being dishonest, there are several tell-tale signs that the person you’re speaking to is being less than truthful.
1. Sketchy Eye Contact
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When someone’s lying, their eye contact can get a bit weird. They might avoid it altogether, or they could go the other way and hold eye contact for way too long. Either way, if their eyes are playing merry-go-round, it might be a sign of a fib.
2. Nervous Body Language
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A liar might become a fidget spinner, displaying nervous body language. This could be anything from tapping their foot, fiddling with their hair, or constantly shifting in their seat. If they’re acting like they’ve got ants in their pants, it might be more than just restlessness.
3. A Lot of Contradictions
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If someone’s story keeps changing, and the details don’t add up, they could be lying. It’s hard to keep track of a made-up story, so contradictions can slip through. So, if their tale twists more than a pretzel, you might want to question its truth.
4. Giving Too Many Details
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On the flip side, if someone’s giving you way too many unnecessary details, it could be a sign of a lie. They might be trying to make their story sound more believable by overloading it with minute details. If they’re describing their lunch down to the last lettuce leaf, they might be serving you a whopper!
5. Defensive Overreactions
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If you ask a simple question and they respond like you’ve accused them of a major crime, they could be lying. Over-the-top defensiveness can be a sign that they’re trying to hide something. If they’re acting like a cornered raccoon when you ask about their day, something might be up.
6. Uncomfortable with Silence
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Liars often feel uncomfortable with silence and will try to fill it with more lies or meaningless chatter. If someone can’t stand a pause in conversation and jumps in to fill every silence, it could be a red flag. If they’re more afraid of silence than a horror movie character, they might not be telling the truth.
7. Delayed Responses
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If someone’s taking a little too long to respond to a simple question, they might be cooking up a lie. Watch out for unnecessary pauses or ums and ahs. If they’re taking longer to answer than a contestant on a game show, they might be playing you.
8. Inconsistency in Emotions
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If someone’s emotional reactions don’t match their words, it could be because they’re not being honest. For instance, if they’re telling a sad story with a big grin on their face, something’s probably fishy. If their emotions are out of sync with their story like a badly dubbed movie, they might be lying.
9. Verbal Cues
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Liars often use certain phrases like “To be honest,” or “Believe me,” more frequently. They might also speak in a more complex way to try and cover up their lies. If their speech is packed with more fillers than a stuffed turkey, they could be spinning a yarn.
10. They Can’t Repeat Their Story
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If someone can’t repeat their story the same way twice, it might be because they’re making it up as they go along. Truth is easy to remember, lies aren’t. If their story changes more than a chameleon in a paint factory, they might be lying to you.
11. Overemphasis on Honesty
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If someone continually insists they’re telling the truth or makes a big deal about their own honesty, it could be a red flag. It’s like they’re trying to convince you – and maybe themselves – that they’re not fibbing. If their mantra seems to be “honesty is the best policy,” you might want to double-check that policy.
12. Touching Face or Mouth
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When people lie, they often subconsciously touch their face or mouth. It’s like they’re trying to cover up the untruths coming out of their lips. If they’re touching their face more than a teenager with a zit, it could be a sign of a lie.
13. Change in Voice
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A person’s voice can change when they’re telling a porky. They might start speaking faster, or their voice might go up in pitch. If they suddenly sound like they’re auditioning for the Chipmunks, they might be trying to deceive you.
14. Avoiding Direct Statements
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Liars often avoid making direct statements and may speak in a roundabout way. They might use more passive language to avoid taking responsibility for their words. If their words are beating around the bush more than a lost hiker, they could be lying.
15. Inconsistent Body Language
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If their words are saying one thing, but their body language is saying another, it might signal a lie. For instance, they might say they’re excited while their body language shows disinterest. If their body is contradicting their words like a badly choreographed dance, there could be deception afoot.
16. Forced Smile
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When people lie, their smiles often don’t quite reach their eyes, making the smile seem forced or fake. This is because genuine smiles are hard to fake, and when someone is lying, their facial expressions may not match their emotions. If their smile seems as genuine as a three-dollar bill, they might not be telling you the whole truth.
