by Kat Apf

Created on: August 07, 2009   Last Updated: April 28, 2010

Everyone has been lied to at one time or another. We've all encountered a person who lies all the time. But how do you know someone is lying to you. It's not always easy to tell. But there are few things that frequently give a liar away.

Keeping it Together-

If a person is a habitual liar, they might have trouble keeping the story straight. When someone lies a lot they are likely to mix up stories and botch answers. So, listen very carefully when you think you're being lied to. It's a good idea to ask questions more than once. If you keep getting a similar yet different answer. Chances are, you're being lied to.

Eye Contact-

If someone isn't a very good liar, they probably will have trouble maintaining eye contact with you while they're fibbing. But someone who is a good liar will have this skill down. Eye contact isn't always the best indicator of lying. If it's someone you know well and the behavior is different, you might have been lied to.

Fidgeting-

A lot of times, a liar will fidget around with their clothes and hair. They might not be able to sit still while they're telling you stories. Now, of course, some people are natural fidgeters. So it doesn't always apply. But if the person normally isn't the sort to wiggle around while they're talking to you and suddenly they are, be leery. They might be telling you something untrue.

Tone of Voice-

Sometimes a person's tone of voice will change when they are lying. Listen for changes in pitch when you believe someone isn't telling you the truth. It could indicate a big fat lie is crossing their lips. This is, of course easiest done with someone you know fairly well. But if you notice a change in pitch or how they are pronouncing their words, it could clue you into a lie.


Hesitation-

If a person avoids your questions or takes a long time to answer a simple question, this might be telling. The reason they hesitate is because they are thinking back on what they said earlier. They might be trying to switch up a story, too. So, if you're asking questions at a normal pace, if you aren't asking rapid fire questions and the person seems to be taking an unusual length of time to speak, they could very well be lying to you.

In the End-

If you are being lied to continually by someone in your life, it's time to reassess your relationship. Healthy relationships don't include habitual lying. If someone is lying to you about big things, that's a red light. It might be time to end it. No one deserves to be lied to.

Learn more about this author, Kat Apf.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.