People Who Can Immediately Tell When Someone Is Full Of It Usually Notice 9 Little Things
Nazarii Ortynskyi | Shutterstock Some people can see through others' deceit like a superpower. They look at things like body language and subtle facial expressions to determine almost immediately whether someone is full of it.
Sadly, lying and fakeness come easily to some people. They manipulate others to get what they want, and they don’t care if it hurts their relationships because lying is second nature to them. However, if you pay attention to their behavior, you don't have to put up with it.
People who can immediately spot fakeness and lies notice these little things when in their company:
1. Lack of eye contact
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Prolonged eye contact helps strengthen bonds and show you can trust someone. People feel they can rely on people who make direct eye contact while speaking. Interactions feel more fulfilling when both people’s eyes engage in the conversation. They do say the eyes are the windows to the soul, but for some, they can give away that they’re lying.
If someone isn’t looking at you while they say something, it might be a good idea to take their words with a grain of salt. A study researched people across 58 countries and found that gaze aversion was a sign they weren’t telling the truth. Eye contact, or lack of it, can show us whether we can trust someone.
2. Subtle facial expressions
When we think of someone lying, we may assume they’d wear it all over their face. Habitual liars are not always obvious, but if someone is keen on their micro-expressions, they can read them like a book. It’s the little things like flared nostrils, blushed cheeks, lip-biting, rapid eye movements, and sweating that give them away.
Our facial expressions change with increased brain activity. This can be a side effect of telling a lie and shows someone who can pick up on other people’s nonsense that they are spewing some in that moment.
3. Withdrawn body language
Open conversations with genuine people are warm and fulfilling. You can sense they are speaking to you with honesty. Unfortunately, not everyone carries themselves this way. Compulsive liars may unconsciously know their dishonesty is showing in how they hold themselves in conversation. From the way they’re sitting to where they put their hands, the signs may be out in the open, but not everyone is able to spot them.
People who are focused on their lie may have a hard time delivering normal body language. Sometimes, gestures like talking with their hands or keeping their arms folded over their chest are not in line with the conversation. Gestures are mostly unconscious, and when someone is holding themselves back, it might be a sign they are lying.
4. Constantly pointing blame at others
I know someone who tells elaborate stories. What I’ve found interesting is that they’re always about how they are the victim. Everyone has done them wrong and continues to do so, and they remain innocent throughout. This is suspicious, right?
We all make mistakes, and owning up to them is important. However, some people will never admit they are wrong because of a fragile ego. Instead, they’ll manipulate situations to make others feel bad for them. Telling a lie that makes them look innocent might be their only priority. People who read this behavior may notice this pattern and eventually come to take their stories with a grain of salt.
5. Only telling stories that make them look good
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No one wants to tell stories without an impressive narrative. Let’s face it, sometimes our lives can be boring. We aren’t always doing something worth reporting back to our friends. When something is underwhelming, some people feel the need to embellish the details to make them look good.
A study shows that we enjoy embellished stories. When people were shown two stories, one that was strictly the truth and another that had lies within, the majority found the embellished story more entertaining. If someone’s story seems too hard to believe, no matter how entertaining it is, you may notice that they are full of it.
6. Strange tone of voice
Our tone tells the truth even when we are trying to hide it in our words. Often, things are brewing under the surface that we can’t see. If someone is snappy or rude, they may be trying to cover something up. Getting frustrated when they’re not being believed or showing bitterness in their tone can be a sign that they are lying.
When people are lying, they may not only have an attitude; their tone of voice will fluctuate. A study found that when lying, someone’s pitch may rise. Someone good at catching liars may pay close attention to the tone of their voice and body language to figure out their intentions.
7. Over-the-top flattery
It always feels good to get a compliment. When someone has something kind to say to me, whether it’s that they like my outfit or think my hair looks good, it makes my day. Deceptive people know this is an easy way to win people over. Flattery can be a tool of manipulation. Sadly, someone laying it on thick doesn’t always have good intentions.
When used for personal gain, compliments don’t mean anything. However, people who use flattery to fool others are often good at it. They can make it seem like they’re genuine, which may lower your guard with them. The truth can be missing from the conversation, but if they make you feel confident, they think they can pull one over on you.
8. The way they pace a conversation
Truth tellers aren’t afraid of long conversations filled with questions and comments from others. They are an open book and welcome any pace of conversation. This isn’t the same for habitual liars. They may change how fast they speak or how they glaze over certain comments. They’re hiding something, but they don’t want to be caught.
If this type of person gets questioned on an event or story they’re telling, they may try to speed past it. Going deep in conversations can show holes in their stories, which are easily picked up on by people who have a good read on others. Liars are often afraid of getting their story wrong when someone challenges it with questions, which is an easy sign to look for.
9. Over-explaining every detail
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The more details we hear from someone, the more convincing it may be. Why would we assume someone is lying when they have every aspect of the situation down and ready to share? When we lie, our brains are under serious cognitive stress. Some liars may think they are convincing with more details they give, but science shows it can actually prove they are trying to deceive someone.
If someone is good at finding the truth in conversation, they may notice a liar’s story changes with more retelling. It can be subtle, but an observant person knows what to look for. In reality, a simple lie can be easier to maintain, and if they speak to someone who can get down to the truth, they may be exposed for being full of it by how much they overexplain the situation.
Haley Van Horn is a freelance writer with a master’s degree in Humanities, living in Los Angeles. Her focus includes entertainment and lifestyle stories.
