Subtle signs that could mean your partner is lying

The signs are less obvious than you think

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How do you know if your partner is lying to you?

Perhaps they avoid eye contact or stumble over their words; whatever the signs, chances are they’re a bit more subtle than an extending Pinocchio-like nose.

According to body language experts, the key is spotting principle changes in their behaviour – and there are a few prime ones to look out for.

Authors Blanca Cobb, of Method of the Masters, and Traci Brown, of How to Detect Lies, Fraud and Identity Theft, told Good Housekeeping that examining facial expressions, hand gestures and fidgeting can reveal a lot about someone’s propensity for truth-telling.

Whether you’re a seasoned liar or not, telling porky pies can undoubtedly be a stressful affair and these pressures can manifest themselves in our facial expressions, Cobb explains.

While refraining from eye contact might be an obvious indicator that someone is uncomfortable, the real signs that a person is lying are far less obvious.

Twitching your eyes, pursing your lips, straining a smile and blinking repeatedly are more likely lying giveaways of Pinocchio chatter, both authors said.

Another key sign is touching your face, explains body language expert Patti Wood, who added that people often touch their eyes, nose and ears to calm themselves down when they’re feeling stressed.

Some people might also fidget more than usual, adds Brown.

Things like tapping your fingers, crossing your legs, humming and yawning excessively can all be subtle indicators of fibbing.

Even tapping your feet can be a sign that someone is hiding something, says Brown.

In some cases, the stress that liars experience can affect their nerves to the extent where they feel uncontrollably itchy, explains Wood.

So if your other half has a sudden urge to scratch themselves while explaining where they were at 2am on Friday night, you have free rein to raise an eyebrow or two.