These are the most common body language signs of lying. All of them could also mean disagreeing with what you are saying or simply being insincere with you. Interpret them in context with other gestures to confirm or deny your suspicion.
Covering One’s Mouth
This is an instinctual gesture that first appears in early childhood. A lying person covers his mouth with his hand as if he is trying to prevent the deceitful words from being said. It could be just few fingers covering the lips, or the whole fist – the meaning doesn’t change.
However, do not forget to interpret this gesture in cluster with other signs and movements.
If the person who is using this gesture is the one who is speaking, it means he might be lying. However, if you are speaking and the listener is the one who is using this gesture, it might mean that he feels that you are not totally honest and sincere with him.
“Be quiet” gesture, i. e. covering your mouth with one finger, was probably used by your parents when they wanted to calm you. Now when you are adult you still subconsciously use this gesture or its variation (like covering your mouth with few fingers or the whole fist) when you know you are hiding something or are not completely open about your feelings.
Touching One’s Nose
Among common signs of lying is the nose touch. It seems that nose touch is connected to original mouth covering gesture that is so obvious in children. But because adults are more conscious about body signs they are displaying, the hand is quickly pulled away from the mouth which results in a quick nose touching gesture.
You can tell the difference between “normal” nose itch and nose touch that is from the signs of lying. Simple itch will be satisfied with rubbing or scratching, but won’t be satisfied with just a light touch as it happens when the person is lying.
And again, if the speaker is the one who displays
the nose touch gesture, it means he could be lying. If it is the listener who does it, then he simply could doubt what he is hearing.
Scratching One’s Neck
Another sign of lying is scratching the neck below the earlobe around five times. This is also often a sign of doubting or disagreeing with what has been said.
Grabbing One’s Ear
When a little child hears something she doesn’t like she covers both her ears as if to prevent herself from hearing the sound. Adults are more conscious about what they do with their body, so instead of obvious ear covering gesture, they could quickly touch the earlobe, or rub the back of the ear, or screw back and forth inside of the ear.
If you were speaking and the person verbally agrees with what you say but at the same time does the ear touching gesture, it probably means that he is not sincere with you. From another side it could also mean that you spoke a lot and he wants to speak now.
Rubbing One’s Eyes
Similarly to ear touching gesture, rubbing one’s eyes could be one of the signs of lying (if the person who does it is the speaker), or a sign of disliking of what the one sees. Men usually rub their eyes vigorously. Women’s way to do it is more gentle and more brief (probably for not smudging make-up). Both could also look away while lying.
As it was said above, interpret these gestures in context with the circumstances and other signs that you observe. Particularly signs that happen automatically and are not under conscious control (see Body Language of a Liar for more information about these signs).
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