How to spot a liar: 5 body language signs you should never ignore

We all have come across situations where other people lie-- be it at home or at the workplace. However, sooner or later the liars are often caught. But, spotting a liar isn’t always easy, especially since many people lie with surprising confidence! But, if you notice closely, there are certain subtle body language cues that can reveal what words try to hide. If you too want to learn the art of spotting liars, here we list some signs that often reveal when someone isn’t telling the truth:

It is often said that our eyes are the window to our soul, and rightly so. Liars often struggle to maintain eye contact with others while talking naturally. Some avoid looking at you entirely, while others overcompensate this by staring too much. Both extremes feel unnatural and it is a cue one should not ignore. Honest people usually maintain comfortable eye contact without forcing it-- because they are confident in what they are saying. If someone’s gaze feels unusual— too fleeting or too intense— then it can hint at their dishonesty.

When lying, people may be nervous and unconsciously fidget to release stress. This can appear in various body language like: tapping legs, fidgetting fingers, shuffling feet, play with objects or touching their face or hair. These are all signs of the liar feeling restless. Of course, when someone is fidgeting it alone cannot always mean that they are lying, but if it appears when they are being asked specific questions or while discussing certain topics, then it is a major red flag.

Liars often end up over-explaining in order to mask the truth. And so, instead of sticking to the facts and speaking to the point, they often give extra details to make their story sound convincing to others. If you notice someone doing this along with other signs, then they are definitely lying and trying to “prove” their honesty.

When people are honest, they give natural and quick responses. But when they are lying, they often pause before giving an answer. This delay comes from the brain working harder to fabricate a story which should sound convincing to others. Even a slight hesitation after a simple question can hint towards the other person lying.

Genuine smiles reach the eyes, creating warmth. However, liars show forced smiles that only involve the mouth. These “fake” smiles are used to mask their underlying stress or guilt. Watch closely— real smiles crinkle the eyes, while fake ones don’t. If someone smiles at odd moments, like when confronted with tough questions, it’s often a defensive tactic which is used to mask their lie. A forced smile may look polite, but it’s usually an attempt to hide discomfort or avoid suspicion.