HOW TO SPOT A LIAR

***NINE WAYS TO SPOT A LIAR***

Everybody lies, but some lies are bigger than others. If you suspect your significant other of lying to you about something MAJOR, there are some telltale signs you should be looking for.

Here are nine ways to spot a liar . . .

#1.) WATCH THEIR LEGS. Most liars change their body language in one way or another: shifty eyes, higher vocal pitch, perspiration, and heavier breathing. But what about their legs?

When someone wraps their legs around the legs of a chair or stool, it indicates they're either not telling you the truth, or they're holding back some important details.

#2.) WAIT FOR A LONG PAUSE. Ask a simple, straightforward question like, "Where were you last night?" or "Are you cheating on me?" If the answer is preceded by a long pause, or if the person repeats the question before answering, it spells trouble.

#3.) MAKE THE PERSON LIE IN REVERSE. If someone is telling you a story that sounds bogus, ask questions that make the person retell the story in a different order.

A person who's concocted a fake story can probably tell it again in the SAME order. But for most liars, it's almost impossible to keep things straight if they have to tell the story in reverse.

#4.) NOTICE WHEN THEY SHRUG THEIR SHOULDERS. If a person says something definitive but shrugs their shoulders at the same time, watch out. The movement indicates that the person is subconsciously uncommitted to what they just said.

#5.) LISTEN FOR THE WORD "BUT." When someone uses phrases like, "I know you'll think this is strange, BUT . . ." or "You're not going to believe this, BUT . . ." chances are, whatever comes next is a lie.

While you're at it, listen for imprecise pronouns. To deal with their guilt, liars use "you," "we" and "they" instead of "I" and "me." And if they keep using phrases like, "to tell you the truth" and "to be perfectly honest" . . . forget about it.

#6.) WATCH THE PERSON'S TONGUE. If you ask a question and the person momentarily flicks out their tongue or licks their lips before answering, then they probably think they're about to get away with something.

#7.) DON'T BE FOOLED BY EYE CONTACT. If someone looks you in the eye, it might seem like they're telling the truth. But when people are intent on proving their sincerity, they'll stare for an uncomfortably long time to prove they have nothing to hide.

#8.) WATCH THE PERSON'S HANDS. A liar knows that they're lying. So they'll often bring a hand to their face . . . to scratch their nose, rub their eyes, or stroke their chin. It's a subconscious attempt to "block" the lies coming out of their mouth.

#9.) PROVE THAT PART OF THE STORY IS A LIE. When you're telling the truth, you might realize you left something out, or said something wrong. It's natural. But liars are reluctant to admit making a mistake . . . because they don't want to be found out.

So if you call someone out on PART of what they said . . . and they STILL refuse to change their story . . . chances are, the rest of the story is BS too.(Cosmopolitan / Forbes)