The 5 easiest gestures to identify when someone is lying

Detecting lies is no easy task, as many people have perfected ways of hiding the truth. However, the body almost always reveals more than words try to conceal. What are the most visible expressions? There are five that can't be ignored.

Microexpressions are quick, almost imperceptible facial movements that arise as an immediate response to what a person is truly feeling, even if they are trying to hide it. These signals can go unnoticed if one isn't trained to observe them, but once learned, they can be a powerful tool. Body language experts point out that paying attention to the eyes, eyebrows, mouth, and forehead can offer clues about a person's true emotional state. According to the Confilegal article, these are the 5 most common microexpressions.

1. Lip compression: This gesture often occurs when a person is facing an uncomfortable, stressful, or emotionally negative situation. Sudden tightening of the lips can indicate that they are holding back something they don't want to express, such as a lie, an intense emotion, or an opinion they'd rather keep to themselves.

2. Covering the mouth: This gesture, although seemingly innocent, can carry a strong emotional and communicative charge. When a person covers their mouth while speaking, it may be an unconscious signal that they are not telling the truth, as if their own body is trying to prevent them from speaking. If they do this while listening, it can be interpreted as distrust or suspicion, suggesting that they don't believe what they're hearing or think something important is being hidden from them.

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3. Neck touching: This behavior, although often unnoticed, is strongly associated with nervousness. It can be a form of physical self-regulation in the face of stress, as an attempt to calm down in the face of an anxiety-provoking situation. It has also been linked to an increase in body temperature or heart rate when someone lies or feels watched.

4. Limited body movement: When someone is lying or feels under pressure, their body language tends to become more rigid and less expressive. It's common to see crossed arms or legs, limited gestures, mechanical movements, or even a tendency to physically retreat. This body containment can be a form of self-protection, an unconscious attempt to withdraw from the environment or avoid detection.

5. Fake surprise: Genuine surprise is one of the most difficult expressions to fake correctly. It appears instantaneously, lasts less than a second, and then disappears. When a person exaggerates this expression, it's usually a sign of deception. Fake surprise can be used to simulate ignorance or disbelief in the face of an accusation, but because it's not authentic, it comes across as artificial and disconnects from the real emotional expression. (READ MORE: It's beautiful: the Colombian village nominated for Best Tourism Village 2025 ) The hidden side of facial expressions

Facial expression analysis has been a key tool in lie detection, as genuine emotions often manifest themselves involuntarily through microexpressions. These are quick, fleeting facial expressions, lasting fractions of a second, and can reveal hidden emotions that a person is trying to suppress.

As Evidential explains, these microexpressions are difficult to control and can provide valuable clues about a person's truthfulness. However, it's important to note that not all involuntary facial expressions indicate lying, as factors such as nervousness or anxiety can also trigger similar reactions.

It's also important to keep in mind that some people can learn to control or disguise these cues, which can make lie detection more complex. Therefore, although facial expressions can provide clues about a person's truthfulness, they should be interpreted cautiously and in conjunction with other verbal and nonverbal cues to obtain a more accurate assessment.