Can you tell if someone close to you is being economical with the truth?

Sometimes, I can tell. Other times I cannot.

There’s usually something. some wee sign.
A change in mannerisms, less eye contact, too much giggling, constantly changing the subject, all could be signs of that.

But be careful, if you look too hard for that sign you might see it – when it’s not there, and hurt yourself and your friend.

I have no idea why, but I have a very good built-in lie detector. I have caught people in lies – or even just omissions – many, many times. They are frequently stunned that I knew.

If it happens over the course of a flowing conversation I might catch something as off but more often than not probably I won’t, though sometimes I wake up the next day and it’s nagging me.

If it’s a response to a question out of the blue or interrupts the train of thought or a response to a probing question I’m usually pretty good at sniffing it out. Something about the way they respond, body language, ambiguity, short answers, a little of everything.

Agree with @scotsbloke though, be careful, if you look hard enough you might see what you want/expect rather than the truth.

Sometimes it’s like a 6th sense for me, especially with my kids. When people are nervous they touch their hair and put it behind their ears (girls). Or they seem to make some type of interaction, with themselves or something near them. i.e. fix the cds piled on the desk, or rub their arm. Or, like most people said, they seem less with you, or they look away and stare at glance here and there. Sometimes, they slur their speech or talk with less meaning and slow down what they’re saying as if they’re “thinking of something to add on” to the conversation. just the usual.

@augustlan I’ve metaphorically shook my 8 ball & it says of your answer, too good to be true~ Just a touch of irony no offence intended!

When you get an answer that is short of details or reasons and the tone of the response doesn’t encourage questions, it’s likely the person is being economical with the truth. That’s a great phrase, by the way!

Alot of times I can feel it.What I do about it,depends on the situation.Sometimes I just don’t care and think it is a waste of time to decipher anything….unless it has a direct affect on my life.Then the shit hits the fan ;)

Yes, they are bank managers.

I didn’t realise how intuitive I really am until over the last year…I’ve had gut instincts about things and uncovered untruths…I actually put it down to my own insecurities until the truth was disclosed.

Maybe it was down to body language and diversion from certain subjects that I knew things were being withheld…however my intuition seems to have proved me right up to yet so I’m definitely going to go with my ‘gut feeling’ from now on.

Nope, i just wait until I’m in a deep pile of ____.

If i know the person well, I always pick up little actions, or the way they say it and I can tell they are lying, but most times if it’s a little white lie I don’t pick up much because I wouldn’t really care much about it. Unless it’s something bigger, and more serious if I look into it I can tell.

I think there are almost always signs, but how easy they are to detect depends on the person’s ability to deceive, as well as how well you know them and could detect when their demeanour is off. I think the reason for the lie is also a significant factor – it may be easier to appear truthful when telling a “white lie” to spare another’s feelings than it would be to lie about something that brings shame or regret. I am an easy read – red face, no eye contact, nervous laugh….. I almost never get away with a lie!

I have one family member who has been diagnosed as a compulsive liar, and he fights is as best as he can, but I have learned that I can’t really believe anything he says, since there’s no way of separating the true from the false.

Another family member twists everything to suit her own agenda, so while not outright lies, definitely very biased.

@sooz74 Oh, I suck at lying, too! I learned long ago to just give it up. :(

It’s rare for me to tell the difference. I have to look between the lines at what else is going on. I was friends with someone for almost 10 years before I decided that person wanted a drinking buddy and not so much a friend. It’s hard you want to trust that person, so it makes it difficult.