How to tell if someone is lying to you

How to tell if someone is lying to you: a complete guide to detecting lies

Lying is an inevitable part of human behaviour. Everyone has wondered at least once: how can I tell if someone is lying to me? Why do some people deceive with ease, while others are given away by every emotion? How can you find out whether a person is telling the truth or not if they are trying to hide their real intentions?

Looking for an answer rather than signs? There are two ways to know for sure: the VerifEye online test (from 2,500 UAH (≈ €50), no office visit) or a classic polygraph test — calculate the cost.

This detailed guide explains how to tell that a person is lying, what signs of dishonesty there are, how the psychology of deception works and which professional methods (EyeDetect, polygraph, StimulTest) make it possible to find out the truth with high accuracy.

Why people lie: the psychology of behaviour

To understand how to know if someone is lying, you need to figure out why people deceive in the first place. Psychology gives clear answers: a lie arises either as a form of defence or as a tool of influence.

The main reasons people lie

A person lies when they:

• are afraid of the consequences;
• want to look better;
• are hiding a mistake;
• want to avoid conflict;
• are seeking some benefit;
• are manipulating;
• are covering up a theft or misconduct;
• are hiding infidelity;
• are trying to save a relationship;
• are acting under pressure.

Most often, when a person lies, their inner tension rises, and this is automatically reflected in their behaviour.

Human psychology: how to know if someone is lying

Several aspects of the psyche help you see the truth:

• micro-expressions,
• gestures,
• posture,
• breathing,
• voice,
• speech rate,
• the logic of what is said.

It is these elements that help you recognise whether a person is lying or not, even when their words sound convincing.

What people do when they lie

Psychologists identify typical patterns of behaviour:

• talking too much or, on the contrary, too little;
• repeating details;
• avoiding eye contact;
• over-controlling their gestures;
• showing nervous tension;
• changing the subject;
• pausing before answering;
• constantly making excuses.

These patterns help you work out how to recognise when someone is lying in almost any situation.

When a person lies: the psychology of the body’s reactions

Lying is always accompanied by physiological reactions:

• the heart beats faster;
• breathing becomes shallow;
• the voice trembles or changes its intonation;
• the facial muscles tense up;
• micro-expressions of fear appear.

This makes it easier to understand how to tell whether someone is lying or not, even without sophisticated tools.

The main signs that someone is lying

There are three groups of signs:

1. Verbal signs of lying

It is speech itself that most often gives away a person’s real intentions.

How to tell someone is lying from the way they speak

Typical indicators:

• too many details;
• illogical fragments;
• long pauses;
• halting, muddled speech;
• attempts to justify themselves in advance;
• unnecessary clarifications;
• repeating the same phrases.

If you want to understand how to tell when someone is lying, listen not only to what is said but also to how it is said.

2. Non-verbal signs

These signals are the most honest, because they are hard to control.

Signs of lying in micro-expressions

• sudden changes of emotion;
• micro-expressions of fear;
• tension at the corners of the mouth;
• a delay before smiling.

How to spot a lie by the eyes

• frequent blinking;
• dilated pupils;
• avoiding eye contact or, on the contrary, overly intense eye contact.

3. Emotional signs

Emotions are the hardest thing to fake.

How to tell from emotions whether someone is lying

• the emotion does not fit the situation;
• words and behaviour are out of sync;
• the reaction looks “forced”.

These factors help you understand how to check whether someone is lying without any special equipment.

How to know if someone is telling the truth

Sometimes words sound convincing, but your gut feeling signals deception. To understand accurately whether a person is telling the truth, pay attention to:

• small details of their speech,
• the logic of their answers,
• facial expressions,
• reactions to unexpected questions.

A truthful person:

• answers quickly and naturally,
• does not search for words,
• is not afraid to look you in the eye,
• does not make excuses in advance,
• does not deliberately memorise details,
• does not avoid the topic.

A liar does the opposite. It is precisely these differences that let you understand how to find out whether someone is telling the truth or not.

How to know if someone is lying: the main signs

There are many signals that help you understand how to recognise that someone is lying. Some show up in speech, others in gestures, and still others in emotions.

Below is a complete, extended list.

1. Behavioural signs

• The person becomes tense.
• They often change position.
• They keep their hands in their pockets.
• They squeeze their fingers, twist a ring, touch their neck.
• They keep touching their face.
• They abruptly look away.
• They smile for too long to hide their tension.
• They want to end the conversation quickly.
• They change the subject.
• They often ask you to repeat the question to buy time.

2. Facial micro-signals

• Micro-expressions of fear.
• Trembling at the corners of the mouth.
• Emotions appear too quickly or too slowly.
• An asymmetrical smile.

3. Speech signs

• An overly detailed story.
• Repeated phrases.
• Answering a question with a question.
• A pause before simple answers.
• An overly formal tone.
• Avoiding directness.
• Phrases like “to be honest” and “frankly speaking”.

4. Logical signs

• The story does not match reality.
• The details contradict each other.
• The person gets the facts mixed up.
• They change the circumstances when retelling the story.
• They add too many explanations.
• They make up excuses in advance.

How to tell if you are being lied to in a relationship

Lying in relationships is one of the most painful topics. That is why so many people search for:

• how to tell if a man is lying;
• how to know if your boyfriend is lying;
• how to tell if a man is lying about his feelings;
• how to find out whether a man is lying or not;
• how to find out if a guy is lying.

How to tell if a man is lying

Signs:

• he avoids frank conversations;
• he gets irritated when you ask questions;
• he defends himself too emotionally;
• he behaves secretively;
• he gets tangled up in his own words;
• he forgets what he said earlier.

How to tell if a man is lying when he says he loves you

• his “I love you” is not backed up by actions;
• he dodges conversations about the future;
• he changes the subject when feelings come up;
• he gives vague answers;
• he tries to look perfect without making any effort.

How to tell if your boyfriend is lying

Young men most often give away a lie like this:

• they hide their phone;
• they often disappear;
• they give the same excuses;
• their behaviour changes abruptly.

How to know whether a guy is lying or not

Signs:

• shifty eyes;
• short answers;
• sudden changes of subject;
• his words don’t match his actions.

How to tell if your boyfriend is lying about his feelings

• beautiful but empty phrases;
• a lack of care;
• ignoring important topics;
• indifference to your life.

How to know you are being deceived

Signs:

• words do not match actions;
• the same excuses again and again;
• groundless accusations directed at you;
• abrupt changes in behaviour;
• emotional coldness.

What to do when someone is lying to you

• Don’t accuse them straight away.
• Ask clarifying questions.
• Watch their reactions.
• Check the facts.
• In serious situations, use professional methods.

Professional ways to detect lies

EyeDetect — the best way to find out if someone is lying

Advantages:

• contactless;
• fast;
• hard to fool;
• ideal for relationships and everyday conflicts;
• analyses micro-reactions of the eyes.

The polygraph — the best method for thefts and investigations

A polygraph test is used when:

• money or belongings have gone missing;
• the culprit needs to be found;
• evidence is needed;
• there are suspicions of a serious offence.

StimulTest — the best way to quietly identify a thief among many people

It is suitable when:

• there are many suspects;
• you need a result quickly;
• the situation has to remain confidential.

Conclusion

Now you know:

• how to tell if someone is lying to you,
• how to know that a person is lying,
• how to determine whether someone is lying or not,
• which signs help you notice a lie quickly,
• how people behave when they lie,
• which professional methods are the most accurate.

If it matters to you to get at the truth accurately and without guesswork —
EyeDetect, the polygraph and StimulTest give the most objective result possible.

These tools help where words, gestures and emotions no longer work.