8 Words That Give a Liar Away

Odds are, you and your guy have a great relationship, and the only lies he tells are little fibs. But it's good to know how to spot the signs he could be telling a whopper. Lie detection expert Janine Driver, author of the new book, You Can't Lie to Me, fills us in on the words that give away a liar.

'Left'

When he uses this word (think: "I left the bar at six" vs. "I went home at six"), there's some kind of drama involved. Maybe he got stuck in traffic or is hiding something he did that he shouldn't have.

Bing: Top reasons why people lie.

Reprinted with permission of Hearst Communications, Inc.

1 of 10 Photo: Courtesy of Cosmopolitan

'Never'

The big thing to look out for is when he says "never" when "no" will do. It's a sign he's overcompensating. For example, if you ask, "Did you just look at that girl's butt?" and he says, "Never!"

Bing: What's the definition of a white lie?

2 of 10 Photo: Courtesy of Cosmopolitan

'That'

Like never, it depends on how he uses it. If he puts "that" in front of a noun, like "that woman" or "that money," it's a subconscious attempt for him to distance himself from the word. This is a common trick of manipulators.

In Pictures: MSN's Latest Low Down on Love

3 of 10 Photo: Courtesy of Cosmopolitan

'Would'

If he skips "no" and goes straight to "I would never do something like that!" when talking about a past event, be wary. For example, "Are you still talking to your ex?" "I would never do that to you!" "Would never" suggests that he plans to do it in the future.

4 of 10 Photo: Courtesy of Cosmopolitan

'Yes, ma'am'

If your guy is a Southern gentleman, then this doesn't apply. But if he suddenly says "ma'am" to you out of nowhere, be cautious. It's a sign that he's feeling stressed and knows he's in trouble.

5 of 10 Photo: Courtesy of Cosmopolitan

'By the way ...'

Liars use phrases like this to try to minimize what they say next -- but usually it's what's most important to the story. Pay extra attention to what he says afterward.

6 of 10 Photo: Courtesy of Cosmopolitan

'But'

Liars usually try to downplay what they say with this word, so pay attention when he says something like, "I know this is going to sound strange, but ..." or "I know you think I'm lying, but ..."

7 of 10 Photo: Courtesy of Cosmopolitan

'Why would I do that?'

It's a favorite stalling line of liars, so they can buy a little time to work out what to say next. These phrases also fit the bill: "What kind of person do you think I am?", "Are you calling me a liar?", and "I knew this was going to happen to me!"

Related: 10 Signs He Wants to Marry You

8 of 10 Photo: Courtesy of Cosmopolitan

9 of 10 Cosmopolitan

More from Cosmopolitan

153Comments

Best

Oct 15, 2012 12:49AM

Cosmopolitan should stick to making shy girls feisty in bed. This kind of fear mongering is ridiculous and will ruin your relationship when you go calling your man a liar based on phrases of speech. Trust me, the type of girl who reads too far into such things and starts reading too far into the words I use won't last a month with me, and I'm very honest. Find better ways to know if someone is sincere and don't ruin a good thing when you have it.