Catching a liar isn’t always easy because, let’s face it, they are pretty sneaky. But even the slickest liars tend to give themselves away if you know how to spot the signs. Here are 15 tricks to help you catch someone out in a lie, plus some advice on handling those who struggle with the truth.
1. They Avoid or Give Intense Eye Contact
Most people have trouble keeping normal eye contact when they lie. They might look away too much or overcompensate by staring at you, trying too hard to seem truthful.
What to Do: If you feel like someone’s eye contact is off, ask direct questions and see if their behavior shifts. Don’t call them out immediately—just observe for more signs.
2. There’s Holes in Their Story
A liar often struggles to keep their story straight. They might add or remove details or contradict themselves as they try to keep track of their made-up tale.
What to Do: Casually ask them to repeat their story later. If they change key details, it’s a red flag. Instead of accusing them, ask open-ended questions to see how they respond.
3. They Get Defensive, Fast
When someone’s lying, they might get overly defensive, even if the situation doesn’t really call for it. They could start deflecting or blaming others to take the heat off themselves.
What to Do: Stay calm and don’t feed into their defensiveness. Keep asking questions in a relaxed manner and watch how they react.
4. Their Words Don’t Match Their Body
A liar’s body language can betray them. They might nod while saying “no” or shake their head while saying “yes.” Watch for these mixed signals.
What to Do: Point out the inconsistency casually—“You’re shaking your head, but you’re saying yes. Is everything okay?” This might make them rethink their story or reveal more.
5. They’re Like Fidget Spinners
Some liars get nervous and start fidgeting—playing with their hair, tapping their fingers, or shifting around in their seat. This kind of anxious behavior can be a sign that they’re uncomfortable with their own story.
What to Do: If they’re fidgeting a lot, try to ask them something unexpected to throw them off. Liars don’t like being caught off guard and may slip up.
6. They Give T.M.I
Sometimes liars over-explain, adding unnecessary details to make their story sound more believable. If someone is giving you way more info than you asked for, it could be a cover for a lie.
What to Do: Let them talk and observe how natural (or unnatural) the extra details sound. Later, you can casually bring up those details to see if they hold up.
7. They Repeat the Same Phrases
Liars often use the same phrases over and over as they try to convince you. It’s like they’re clinging to a script in their head to keep the lie going.
What to Do: Ask them to elaborate on something specific. If they keep going back to their rehearsed lines, it might be time to question their truthfulness.
8. They Avoid Personal Pronouns
A liar might distance themselves from the lie by avoiding “I” or “me.” They’ll say things like “someone” or “we” to avoid feeling too connected to the story.
What to Do: Pay attention to how they phrase things. If they’re being vague or avoiding ownership, ask follow-up questions like, “Who exactly are you talking about?”
9. Their Tone of Voice Changes
Liars often have a hard time controlling their tone. They might talk faster, slower, or their voice might get higher or lower as they try to convince you.
What to Do: Note any sudden changes in how they’re speaking. Ask simple, non-threatening questions to see if their tone shifts again, and then piece together the inconsistency.
10. They’re Eager to Change the Subject
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A liar will want to move on from the topic as soon as possible. If they start pushing to change the conversation or get overly excited when the topic shifts, that’s a clue.
What to Do: Stay on the topic longer than they want to. If they’re trying too hard to move on, gently bring the conversation back to see how they react.
11. They Give Short, Filtered Responses
Some liars go the opposite way—they’ll give minimal responses to avoid saying too much and slipping up. If their answers are unusually short or vague, it could be a sign they’re hiding something.
What to Do: Encourage them to elaborate. If they still give short answers, ask why they’re not being more open. It may nudge them into revealing more.
12. They Show Fake Emotions
Liars might try to fake emotions, but it doesn’t always come off right. If someone’s reaction seems exaggerated or feels forced, it’s worth taking note.
What to Do: Don’t confront them directly. Instead, observe how they react to different parts of the conversation. Their emotional response to other topics might give more away.
13. Their Breathing Changes
When someone’s nervous about lying, their breathing can change. They might start breathing faster, or take deep breaths as they try to calm themselves down.
What to Do: If you notice this, stay calm and ask more questions to keep the pressure on. If they’re lying, the change in their breathing might become more obvious.
14. They Dodge Questions
Liars will often dodge a question instead of answering it straight on. They might redirect the conversation or give a vague, roundabout response.
What to Do: Politely redirect them back to the question. If they keep dodging, that’s a sign they’re uncomfortable with the truth.
15. They Pause Before Answering
Sometimes, liars need a second to come up with their answer. If someone takes an unusual amount of time to respond, especially when it’s about something they should know right away, it’s suspicious.
What to Do: Be patient and wait out the pause. If they’re stalling, it could mean they’re crafting a lie, so follow up with more questions to see if their story holds together.
