THE Celebrity Traitors aren’t the only ones telling porkies to throw the Faithfuls off the scent.

Research shows we spill dozens of little fibs a week.

An image collage containing 1 images, Image 1 shows Claudia Winkleman posing in front of wooden paneling wearing a black dress
Can you spot a liar like the Celeb Traitors?

So how can you tell when someone is

Carole Railton, a body language specialist and author of The Future Of Body Language, shares a few giveaways that can help you root out a .

WATCH THE FEET

Young adult man relaxing on a sofa, looking at camera and smiling
Liars can forget to control their feet Credit: Getty

WHILE words may be telling one story, our bodies can reveal another.

Fibbers often concentrate on controlling their face carefully when they are not being completely honest. In doing so, they can forget their feet.

Watch for the ones who suddenly turn their toes towards an exit, start shuffling, withdraw them under a chair or go unusually still.

The further away you get from the face, the less consciously controlled body language can become.

PINOCCHIO EFFECT

A thoughtful girl scratching her nose against a blue background.
Want to expose a fibber? Watch their nose Credit: Getty

LIARS may not suddenly grow a long nose like Pinocchio, but there might be a grain of truth in the old fable.

When we’re being deliberately deceptive, our body’s stress response sometimes produces subtle physiological changes.

These include changes in facial temperature and blood flow, accompanied by touching, rubbing or scratching the nose.

So if someone who rarely touches their face starts rubbing their nose when a particular question is asked, especially alongside changes in their voice, eye behaviour or posture, that’s when it’s time to start paying attention.

SENTENCE SPEED

A man in a white t-shirt communicates with enthusiastic hand gestures in front of a purple background.
Someone talking quickly can be an indicator that they are lying Credit: Shutterstock

TALKING very fast, very slowly, or chattering very deliberately doesn’t prove that someone is telling porkies – but treat them as warning signs telling you to pay attention.

Changes in pitch, speed, prolonged pauses or throat-clearing can all indicate subtle neurological changes brought on if someone knows they’re not being honest, although it doesn’t prove it.

A good example is a statement that rises in pitch at the end and begins to sound like a question, such as, “I wasn’t there?”.

FREEZE UP

A young woman stands against a green background, gesturing thoughtfully with her hands with a confused expression on her face.
A liar may freeze up if caught in the act Credit: Shutterstock

YOU might expect people who could be feeling a little anxious or nervous to fidget as they fib.

But sometimes the complete opposite happens.

Someone trying hard to control themselves while delivering a whopper may become unusually still and appear almost frozen.

Notice if their shoulders stiffen or their body appears almost rigid in position as they spin you a story.

Sudden stillness can be as revealing as sudden movement.

MIX AND MATCH

A young business woman with an uncertain expression at work.
A mismatch between what the mouth articulates, and what the body does, could suggest that someone may be spinning you a yarn Credit: Shutterstock

WHEN we are being honest and talking in everyday life, our words and body language should tell broadly the same story.

But a mismatch between what the mouth articulates, and what the body does, could suggest that someone may be spinning you a yarn.

Perhaps someone says “absolutely” while subtly shaking their head.

Maybe they tell you they’re delighted, and their face briefly drops.

When words, expressions, gestures and tone don’t marry up, don’t immediately call it out as a lie.

But if the two aren’t quite tallying, it’s definitely worth becoming more curious.

COVERING IT UP

A young man wearing a pink sweater bites his lip and looks worried with crossed arms.
Notice if someone is covering their chest? They may be telling porkies Credit: Shutterstock

IT’S always worth noticing if someone is clutching at, or covering up, their chest.

They might be folding their arms, holding a coffee or teacup close to their body, or shielding themselves with a handbag, laptop, or similar.

These obstructions can all be distraction techniques – they deflect others from seeing what might really be going on with someone.

STARE DOWN

Portrait of a bearded man in a denim shirt sitting on a couch.
Liars may focus on staring at you too much Credit: Shutterstock

PEOPLE often assume that liars will avoid eye contact.

But in fact, someone who is consciously trying to appear truthful may do the opposite.

They might overcompensate by holding your gaze for longer than is natural.

Watch out for blink rates, which can change, too.

Under pressure, some people may blink more, while someone deliberately controlling their behaviour may blink less and hold an unusually steady stare.

On their own, neither staring or blinking proves deception.

The key is the change from that person’s normal behaviour.

ACTING A BIT OFF

An offended man with crossed arms against a pink background.
Establish someone’s normal behaviour, then watch what changes when you introduce a particular person, question or subject Credit: Shutterstock

DON’T judge someone purely by one crossed arm or one glance away.

Overall changes are the most important thing to pay attention to.

Establish someone’s normal behaviour first, then watch what changes when you introduce a particular person, question or subject.

To find the truth, you will need to look for, and need, a cluster of changes.