We’ve all encountered fake people: maybe they were full of praise for us but spreading rumors about us behind our backs. Or maybe they were so desperate to be liked that they promised us the world and then went AWOL. It’s not always easy to spot a fake person, which is why you have to keep your ears open for things they might say. But, as with any phrase, check for body language cues, like eye-rolls and a smile that doesn’t reach their eyes, to confirm that you’re dealing with a fake person. With this in mind, here are 13 phrases fake people tend to use.
1. “Oh, I Love That For You!”
You told your friend that you quit your job to pursue a creative career, and they clapped their hands and said, “Oh, I love that for you!” While that doesn’t seem dodgy in itself, it can be weird if they go OTT about how amazing it is. After a while, you might wonder if they’re being fake because they don’t want to tell you what they really think. Honestly? The phrase “I love that for you” can feel like they don’t actually give a damn and they’re not your number one cheerleader.
2. “Thanks, But I Look So Bad.”
You compliment your friend for looking stunning and she replies with, “Thanks, but I look so bad today!” Um, what? You can tell she spent hours perfecting her look, so this feels so fake. Is she trying to come across as humble, or is she hoping you’ll throw on more praise? Ugh.
3. Want a partner? Attract love with the power of your mind.
Sweetn is a new research-based startup that shows you how to call love into your life with the power of your mind. Take our quiz, and try our tools—they can transform your energy and your love life in a few weeks. Just click here.
4. “Did You Hear What Happened?”
If someone’s fake, they’re two-faced, so it’s no surprise that they’ll be drawn to juicy gossip. So, you therefore shouldn’t be surprised when they run to you with the latest rumor they heard about your mutual friend and you can see the excitement in their eyes. Gross. But, to cover their dodginess, they might say something after sharing the horrible gossip, like the following.
5. “You Know I’m Not Like That.”
Hand to the heart, your friend says that they’re not the type to be mean to others. They’ll say, “You know I’m not nasty/a gossip/malicious!” But you can’t help but think that they kinda are. They’re just saying this because they want to maintain the illusion that they’re so perfect and nice.
6. “You Look Amazing!”
You’re feeling self-conscious about the outfit you’re wearing but your (fake) friend tells you how amazing you look. Even though you know in your heart of hearts that if Joan Rivers saw your shirt she’d give you one of her biggest insults. The more your friend tells you that you look good, the less you believe her.
7. “Sorry, What Was That?”
Fake people don’t have much bandwidth for things that don’t concern them. So, if you’re talking to them and they’re too obsessed with their phone, they’re going to tune you out. They might keep apologizing for not hearing what you said, but it just feels like everything’s always about them.
8. “Why Would They Be So Mean To Me?”
Your friend is sobbing in the bathroom because someone was nasty to her. Meanwhile, you heard from the other person that this friend was actually nasty first. Yikes. Now you’re stuck in the middle, feeling forced to console your friend. The thing is, fake people will make themselves the victim because they want everyone else’s sympathy.
9. “I’ll Cross Oceans To Be There!”
Fake people are OTT. They’ll promise you the world or promise to be there for you no matter what, and you might believe them. Until something bad happens and you reach out to them. Their words don’t match their actions, as they’ll ignore you or go AWOL. Great.
10. “You’re The Best!”
Although your fake friend won’t be there when you need them, they won’t hesitate to text you for a favor. Ugh. When you help them out, they’ll say something like, “You’re the best!” This kind of compliment isn’t a genuine one at all – it’s so generic. But that’s what they’ll resort to and hope that you believe it so you’ll be there to help them when they need help again in the future. Yup, super needy.
11. “I Just Don’t Want You To Get Hurt.”
When your friend hears about you hooking up with your ex or wanting to quit your job, she’ll either throw on the support or do the opposite and tell you that you’re making a mistake. If you get upset by her comments, she’ll resort to saying, “I just don’t want you to get hurt!” Fake friends want to come across as Best Friend Of The Year, but maybe they’re just hoping to control what you do.
12. “I Love You!”
Okay, so someone telling you that they love you isn’t necessarily fake, but what if they say it after a few hours of meeting you? Maybe the guy you’ve gone on a first date with throws the love bomb your way at the end of the date. There’s no way he can legit love you, so this is a red flag. Look out for other signs that he’s faking it.
13. “I Hate Drama.”
Someone who’s fake might seem genuine when they say they dislike drama and avoid it, but as you get to know them, you might notice that they’re attracting drama everywhere they go! They’re competitive and selfish, which is sure to cause conflict.
14. “I Can’t Stand That Person.”
A fake person might try to fool you that they’re real with you but they dislike other people. So, you might see that they’re loving and complimentary to your mutual friend, but then behind her back they tell you how much they can’t stand her. Eek! Watch your back, because they could be doing the same thing when you leave the room.
