True or False?
How can you tell if someone is lying or not? While some might leave obvious signs, others may be better actors, and sometimes, it pays to trust your gut. But if you're wondering whether there are specific indicators to watch out for, here are 10 telltale signs someone is bluffing—and 10 signs they're being honest.
1. Avoid Eye Contact
You can usually tell a person is lying if they avoid eye contact. They may look down at their feet, their hands, at a corner of the room—but never at your face. Their gaze may also dart around in different directions as they speak.
2. Fidgeting
When someone is lying, they typically fidget. They might pretend to be busy with something (on top of avoiding eye contact), as this allows them more time to respond to your questions and insert more natural pauses or stutters.
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3. Saying Too Little
People who lie also tend to say too little in case revealing too much information gives them away. They may refuse to answer follow-up questions or respond as if they’re being unfairly scrutinized and interrogated, while still avoiding giving an actual answer.
4. Saying Too Much
But other types of liars may think that saying more is better. They may give out too much information, feeling that the more detail they give, the less likely the other person will think they’re lying—and the more they can convince themselves that their lie is the truth.
5. Change in Speech Patterns
You might not know this, but if you’ve ever told a lie before, you’ve probably phrased your answers a little differently than if you had told the truth. People who are lying tend to change their speech patterns, such as skipping contractions (saying “I did not do it” instead of “I didn’t do it”), using sweeping statements (“I would never do that”), or speaking in a different tone than usual. A great way to see if someone might be lying is to ask simple questions first—ones that can be answered honestly—before the interrogating ones.
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6. Finger Pointing
Whether literally or figuratively, liars tend to point fingers when they're omitting the truth. They might place the blame on others instead of answering the question, or they may try to direct your attention to something or someone else in the room.
7. Using Too Many Gestures
Just like a person who's lying may have changes in their speech patterns, they may also suddenly over-gesture as they talk. This might be because they believe the gesturing helps to better sell the lie—or maybe their nerves got the best of them. A switch-up in mannerisms is another clear indicator.
8. Clammy Hands
A person who’s lying—and isn’t great at it—will likely start sweating. The more you question and push at them, the more nervous they become. Their hands might get clammy, and they may repeatedly wipe them on their shirt or pants.
9. Make Excuses to Leave
If a liar isn't committed to selling you their lie, they're determined to never answer your question in the first place. They may make excuses to leave (such as "I don't have time for this") or accuse you of something in return ("What about that time when you __?").
10. Inconsistent Story Lines
The more you press for details and ask questions to fill in the blanks, the easier it may be to see the inconsistencies in a liar's story. Unless they had a chance to thoroughly piece their lie together before the interrogation, you're likely to find holes and oddities in what they're saying.
But what about someone who's telling the truth? How can you tell if they're being honest? Let's jump into 10 ways you can tell if someone is being genuine.
1. Eye Contact
Unlike liars, people who are being truthful will maintain eye contact with you in a natural way that fits with their usual mannerisms. They won't try to look somewhere else when answering you or look down at their lap.
2. Vocal Tone & Patterns
You can also listen to their vocal tones and patterns. Does their pitch stay the same as it usually is? Are they speaking as they usually do? Unless they're good at lying, you can typically tell whether someone is being honest or not by paying attention to the way they talk.
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3. Natural Reactions
Someone's immediate reaction to a statement or a question may also instantly give them away. While a person who's lying may play up their emotional response to make it seem more believable, those who are being truthful will have a natural response. For example, you can typically tell whether someone is acting shocked or they're genuinely surprised.
4. Body Language
Examine their body language. Are they fidgeting? Are they relaxed or all tensed up? As they speak, does their body language match their words? Someone who's lying may inadvertently do gestures opposite to their responses (for example, shaking their head when saying "Yes"), but someone telling the truth will display non-verbal cues that align with what they're saying.
5. Don't Try Avoiding the Question
Someone who's bluffing will generally try their best to avoid your questions altogether by deflecting, becoming defensive, shifting blame, or making excuses. An honest person, on the other hand, will answer your questions without doing this exhaustive dance.
6. Genuine Emotions
If you question someone who's lying, they may respond with anger. If you question someone honest, they may respond with confusion or with empathy. Just like how our reactions and facial expressions aren't overly dramatized when we're being genuine, we don't need to play up our emotions when we're telling the truth.
7. Admit What They Don't Know
When you can't remember something, you'll say as much. After all, why waste your breath making up a story to convince others you do remember? The same applies to someone who's being honest; unlike liars, they won't waste their energy crafting up a false narrative.
8. Right Amount of Detail
Remember when we mentioned that liars tend to either share too little or too much? When someone is telling the truth, they'll usually give the right amount of detail and they can explain further if you prompt them.
9. Openly Correct Themselves
When someone is telling a fib, they'll do everything in their power to convince you that they're being honest. But people are infallible—we forget things and make mistakes. Which is why someone who's telling the truth will openly admit their faults and correct themselves.
10. Willing to Be Questioned
If there's no reason to lie, there's no reason to avoid being questioned. Those who are honest will display open body language and a willingness to answer your doubts because they have nothing to hide. They won't waver no matter how much you prod or press.
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