Can you spot a liar? - Atlanta News, Weather, Traffic, and Sports | FOX 5

The used car salesman says you're getting an unbelievable deal.  Your spouse tells you you look way better than you did in high school.  Do you know when someone is lying to you?

Experts say we lie about 50 times a day.  Body language expert Patti Wood says there are many signs to spot when someone is not shooting straight with you.

"It's actually the people that know you well, that you're in close relationships with, who look at you and then lie," said Wood.

Wood says you need to look at the whole body, from the feet to the top of the head, to spot the clues that give a liar away.

Wood says one clue is to watch their eyes.  Liars may look away, or try to overcompensate and stare a little too long.  And we often blink a little too much when we lie.

"Sometimes they call it the 'Nixon effect,' where your eyes flutter so quickly when you're nervous or anxious," said Wood.

Wood says another clue is what she calls "the liar's lean."  A person might lean towards you and say something like, "Oh, really, I want to tell you the truth.  I want to be perfectly honest with you."

Over-gesturing is another giveaway.  And watch their mouth for tightness, or what Wood calls the "lip-withhold."
 
"I can say, ‘Mm…, everything is great at home. Yeah, great, really good,'" described Wood.

She says liars may fidget, touching their faces or hair.

"We might do little self-comfort cues to reveal the fact that we need comfort in this situation," Wood said.

Another clue is that gut feeling you get something isn't right.  Wood suggests you follow your instinct.  If you need to ask a tough question, start with small talk and then ask your question. If their demeanor totally changes, that may be a sign they're stressed.