5 Ways To Tell When Someone Is Lying

Have you ever had a conversation with someone and got a strange vibe off them? You can’t quite put your finger on it, but you know something is definitely wrong. This odd vibe may be your gut instinct telling you the person you’re conversing with is probably lying to you.

Some people are better at spotting liars than others, but is there a way to get better at it? If you can’t spot a liar, how do you learn to tell when someone is lying? What cues and gestures do you pinpoint as things that suggest untruthfulness?

In the science of body language, there are numerous indicators that tell when someone is lying. Listed below are some of the easiest ones to spot.

1. They Avoid Your Eyes

This one is pretty simple. In almost everybody’s lives, they’ve encountered at least one account of this. You’re talking to a person and, as they start to explain themselves or their actions, their eyes start to dart around. They don’t hold your stare. Eye aversion is indicative of lying.

Now, it is important to realize that some people may be shy and generally not look others in the eyes when they talk. Remember to always try and read other body cues to conclude whether a person is actually lying.

2. They Give Too Much Detail

People like to tell stories. However, not everyone likes to delve into a hundred different details when describing their day off. This is a tell-tale sign that someone hasn’t been truthful with you.

They start to tell you a story. And the story keeps going and going and going. When the story could have been summarized in three sentences, people who lie tend to indulge the lie and paint in the details like a Picasso painting. If they keep babbling, it’s a strong possibility they’re lying.

3. They Move Around a Lot

Telling someone the truth is a cleansing practice, no matter what the situation. You could be telling your girlfriend you didn’t cheat on your diet and that you legitimately ate a healthy breakfast. Or you could be telling your brother you know about his affair. While both situations are very different from each other in terms of seriousness, the point is the act of telling the truth should be easy.

It should be easy in the sense that you want to get your point across. When you want to get your point across, you let all the words flow out. When someone is lying, they don’t have this same response. Instead, people who are lying will begin to fidget. They’ll move around while they’re trying to come up with a story. Subconsciously, they may be trying to escape the situation.

4. They’ll Say They’re Innocent

Let’s say you’re five years old. You’re playing in the house with your siblings. Suddenly, while running through the house, you bump into the table in the hallway and watch in slow motion as the precious vase your mom just bought goes crashing down onto the ground. With all your hopes and dreams of that video game you always wanted for Christmas quickly swirling down the drain, you decide you’re not going down today. Instead, your brother is going to take the fall.

Your mom comes up to you, and what’s the first thing out of your mouth? “I didn’t do it. He did!” This is one of the most blatant attempts to cover your tracks when lying. People who lie will tell you time and again that they’re telling the truth. In essence, they shouldn’t have to say this if they’re truly innocent.

5. They Take a Long Time to Respond

If you ask someone a question and they’re telling the truth, they’ll probably answer you fairly quickly. They’ll want to tell you the truth as quickly as possible and clear up the situation in a speedy fashion. Why? Because the truth is easy. The truth is already in the mind, just waiting to be told. It’s sitting there in the brain.

How can you tell when someone is lying? A lie will cause the person to pause and think about what they want to say. They’ll have to conjure up the images in their heads. Pauses and silences indicate an active mind.

The next time someone says something that gives you that odd feeling, consider whether they’re showing any of these signs that they may be lying.