17 Telltale Signs Someone is Lying

Detecting lies is hard as liars can choose words carefully and convincingly. Liars often avoid eye contact due to guilt or fear of being caught. Other acts can also reveal deceit.

Too Much Information Without Specifics

Deceptive people often offer excess info with no specific details, indicating dishonesty. Instead of telling their activities clearly, they relate a long narrative, omitting crucial specifics, suggesting a fabricated story.

Unnecessary Details

To seem trustworthy, people often use complex explanations and excessive details to divert attention from their deceit. This may cloud the main issue, hiding inconsistencies in their story.

They Don’t Like It If You Question Them

Questioned individuals' reactions can indicate their honesty. Honest people value clarification opportunities and respond directly whereas liars often respond defensively, hinting deception.

Getting Super Defensive

Excessive defensiveness, especially to harmless questions, could signal deception. It may imply attempts to hide truth or avoid scrutiny.

Sounds Too Good To Be True

Liars often create narratives too good to be true with unrealistic promises. Their apparent extravagance can be a sign of deception.

They Gaslight You

"Liars use subtle tactics like gaslighting to control their victims. They intimidate you into fearing to question them, often questioning your trust."

Can’t Handle Follow-up Questions

Their narratives rely on controlled info and pre-set responses. Yet, further inquiries can crumble their fabricated stories under added scrutiny.

They Over-Explain Without Being Asked

Liars often offer unsolicited explanations, a red flag suggesting deceit. This could stem from a need to cover inconsistencies or bolster their deception.

They Look Incredibly Desperate To Prove Their Point

Desperate attempts to prove a point may signify lying, a way to maintain an image or avoid consequences. Clues include needy looks, desperate for your belief.

Changing Subjects Or Trying To End The Conversation

Abruptly ending or changing conversations can be a tactic to avoid scrutiny, especially when deceptive, to evade accountability or hide lies.

They Don’t Directly Answer The Question

They may lie by evading questions, providing misleading answers, or deflecting with irrelevant information.

Talking In Circles

Liars often talk in circles to confuse or distract, aiming to obscure the issue and prevent others from uncovering their narrative's falsehoods.

Body Language

Liars often show “tells” deviating from usual behavior hinting inner discomfort. Microexpressions like fleeting frowns, tightened jawlines, forced smiles indicate deception.

Nonverbal Cues

Nonverbal cues such as fidgeting, nervousness, sweating, or unusual body language can betray someone’s dishonesty, as their body may betray their internal discomfort.

Changes in Vocal Pitch or Tone

Liars may experience changes in their vocal pitch or tone, such as speaking in a higher or lower voice than usual, as a result of increased stress or anxiety.

Unnecessary Qualifiers

Adding unnecessary qualifiers or modifiers to their statements, such as “honestly” or “to tell you the truth,” can be a subconscious attempt to convince others of their honesty.

Grooming Behaviors

Liars may engage in grooming behaviors such as touching their face, adjusting their clothing, or playing with their hair as a way to self-soothe or relieve stress.