Signs and Signals Someone is Lying to You

Most people can sense if they think someone they are talking to might be lying. It is hard to figure out exactly what it is that makes you feel like they are dishonest but there are many behaviors you can check out if you are suspicious. Keep in mind, the person may be lying to you with your best interest at heart and you discovering it may damage the relationship.

You might find that it is harder to tell if a stranger is lying to you than if someone closer to you is doing it. The problem here is that you do not know how that stranger normally acts. They might just be socially awkward and you could attribute their strange actions to a lying when that is really not the case. If you are trying to figure out when someone close to you is lying, keep an eye on them when you know they are being truthful. This way, you will know what is normal behavior for them and be able to notice the subtle changes that occur during a lie.

Watching people's eyes is usually the easiest way to tell if they are lying. Liars often try to avoid making eye contact. They will also look up and to the left while they are making up a lie. Looking up and to the right is just a sign that they are trying to remember information so don't mistake this for lying.

Body language is another good way to tell. A liar will often stay quite still and not make many expressive gestures. They will tend to hold their arms close to their body. Touching the face is another sign of a lie. Covering or rubbing the mouth is the best indicator given by the hands. Liars will often use their hands to place something, like a cup of coffee, between you and them.

Some facial expressions can also give a liar away. If a person smile looks forced, with just their mouth (not eyes) smiling, they might by lying. A difference in the normal facial expression for a situation and the one you actually see is another yet another sign. If a person is saying something that should be happy with a frown on their face, they might be being deceitful. Watch for a delay between what they say and the fake facial expression that then appears on their face.

Many subtleties can tell you if someone is lying. You just need to be alert for them.