Think you’ve got a solid B.S. detector? You might want to think again.
A new breakdown of the most common tells suggests that spotting a liar isn’t always as easy as we’d like to think.
Body language expert Judi James has laid out the top signs that someone might be lying, and while some of them are classics (like fidgeting or avoiding eye contact), others are a little trickier. And here’s the kicker: nervous truth-tellers can show these signs too, just because they’re worried you won’t believe them.
Still, if you’re trying to get a read on someone, here are 10 behaviors that could mean the truth is being stretched like pizza dough:
- Shifty eyes: Eye movement can give away what’s going on upstairs. Looking to the right could mean someone is making something up, while looking left suggests they’re trying to recall a memory. (Just don’t make this your only clue, or you’ll end up accusing every daydreamer of fraud.)
- Long pauses: If they suddenly sound like a broken Alexa, they might be stalling for time. Repeating your question or taking forever to answer could mean they’re crafting a lie on the fly.
- Voice changes: Liars might get squeaky or breathless. Stress raises vocal pitch, so if they suddenly sound like they inhaled helium, take note.
- Fidgeting: Classic nervous energy move. Of course, some people fidget when they don’t get enough sleep or had too much coffee . . . plus, that means all children are liars.
- The poker face: On the opposite end, some liars lock up and go super still to avoid giving anything away. Congrats, you’ve just met a statue.
- Eye-dancing: If their eyes are ping-ponging around the room, they might be panicking. Or scanning for the nearest exit.
- Overcompensation: Trying too hard to seem confident can be a red flag. Liars sometimes puff up their chests, smirk too much, or act like they’re auditioning for a courtroom drama.
- Barrier moves: Subtle gestures like folding arms, shifting away, or shaking their head could signal defensiveness. It’s like their body is trying to hide something, even if their mouth isn’t.
- The forced smile: It’s not always easy to fake warmth. A tight-lipped, lifeless smile could mean something’s up… or they’re just socially awkward. Flip a coin.
- Too many filler words: “Umm,” “like,” “you know”… if every sentence is a remix of verbal static, it could mean they’re stalling or spinning.
Bottom line? These signs aren’t guarantees. But if several of these behaviors show up at once? You might want to take what you’re hearing with a hefty grain of salt.
