Honesty may be the best policy, but not everyone plays by the rules. That’s why learning to spot the signs of a lie can be so useful.

One of the most effective ways to determine whether or not someone’s lying is to examine their body language and speech patterns. After all, actions often speak louder than words.

Here are a few simple tips that will help you spot the body language cues that liars aren’t always able to hide:

Nervous Noise

Liars often mispronounce words, stutter or sniff as nervous tension takes over. Their anxiety about being caught can leak out in these small but noticeable slips.

Delayed Delivery

While honest responses tend to come out quickly and naturally, liars often pause as they scramble to invent details and make their story sound believable.

Under Cover

Covering the mouth or rubbing the nose and eyes can be subtle ways liars try to shield themselves. These unconscious gestures often reveal discomfort and a desire to “hide” the truth.

Fade Away

Liars may begin to shrink into themselves, their posture closing off as if they’re trying to disappear. Movements often become stiff, minimal and guarded.

Pick Pocket

Open palms signal honesty, but liars tend to do the opposite by hiding their hands in their pockets or fidgeting nervously to conceal their discomfort.

Pivoting

Liars often welcome a shift in conversation, breathing easier once the spotlight moves away from their story. As relief sets in, their body language tends to relax noticeably.

Eye of the Liar

Liars tend to dodge eye contact, while more practiced deceivers swing the other way, locking in with deliberate, almost forced stares to prove their “honesty”.

Detecting deceit isn’t always easy, as some people are better liars than others. Asking specific follow-up questions can help determine whether or not someone’s lying, as it’s difficult to fabricate specific details on the spot.

Of course, none of these cues are foolproof. Cultural differences, nerves or personality quirks can appear deceptive, but when multiple tells start stacking up, it’s usually a sign they’re hiding something.