Liars almost always say these 10 phrases when they talk to you

There are some phrases that sound completely harmless, but then you realize that they’re actually helping someone avoid the truth altogether.

A question thrown sideways

It seems like a fair question. Some people say, ‘Why would I even do that?’ when you confront them, and yes, it could be genuine, but it’s likely just a simple detour.

They’re trying to pull focus from the truth and put the attention on motives instead.

That’s a slippery slope because people do weird things for strange reasons all the time, like pride or panic. It’s not a justification. Liars love using this phrase because it makes what you’re saying sound ridiculous, even though it might be completely accurate.

Easy honesty on paper

You can’t deny that there’s a kind of confidence to the phrase, ‘If I had done that, I’d just say so.’ They’re trying to sound reasonable, and they’re trying to sound like they’re always completely honest. Truly honest people wouldn’t have to say that.

No, they’re creating a version of themselves that they’d like you to believe, and it’s one that’s not real in the slightest. They don’t care. They’re just hoping that you’ll confuse their lying self with the version of them that they want you to believe.

Room around the edges

Ambiguity usually works in a liar’s favor, and it’s why a sentence like ‘I mean, I guess, depending on how you look at it’ is one of their favorites.

They might’ve said or done something, but not ‘like that.’ They might’ve agreed, but not in the way you imagine.

They’ve got some wiggle room with the truth, and you’re unable to force them into a direct yes-or-no answer. Liars love having a little middle space to change the story as they’re telling it. You don’t even realize they’re doing it.

Exact words, loose meaning

Sometimes people say ‘I don’t remember saying those exact words,’ and they genuinely mean it, that’s fine. But then there are others. They’re the ones who use their apparent confusion to hide the real problem and focus on wording instead.

Doesn’t matter whether they meant what they said, doesn’t matter whether they actually meant it. They’re fighting over wording because they want to avoid telling the truth. If that’s not a liar, then what is?

Somewhere out there

You can use ‘I think I saw it somewhere’ in practically any situation, and it’s part of the reason why liars love it so much. That, and the fact that it sounds so normal that most people won’t push it. Liars are hoping that the normality helps them seem genuine.

Now, they’re able to make a claim without adding a source to it or even taking the blame for it. It’s the unknown source’s fault, not theirs, if there’s something wrong with it. But they don’t give you anything to check, no name or link. Nothing at all.

Guessing with confidence

Try challenging a liar. You can guarantee they’ll say something like, ‘I assumed that’s what happened,’ because it helps them to shrink their claims. They were sure about what they were saying before, but now? It was just an assumption.

Their false statements have become a simple misunderstanding because, of course, they weren’t spreading something, and, of course, they weren’t making it up. They only assumed something, and they want you to believe that.

Borrowed from the room

‘I was just repeating what I heard.’

It’s another great way for a liar to put the lie in someone else’s hands, regardless of whether they actually name who that person was. They only care about being able to put the lie out there.

As soon as the lie falls apart, and it will, they’re able to step back and pretend that they were only the messenger. You can’t blame them for it, can you?

So much going on

Liars usually say ‘There were a lot of moving parts’ once the story’s already left the road. Sure, maybe things were a little messy, things like that happen sometimes. That’s not why liars use this phrase, though.

They’re using it because they’re hoping that the messiness will disguise the lie. They’re hoping you don’t see that the real answer is missing, and that you simply believe what they’re telling you instead.

Later was safer

‘I was waiting for the right time to explain.’

It could almost pass as thoughtful, but really, what they’re trying to do is make their silence sound like a nice thing. They’re hoping you don’t realize that it wasn’t.

It usually comes whenever you ask them a direct question and expect an answer. Rather than being honest, they pretend they didn’t tell you something because they didn’t want to hurt you. Don’t believe them.

Tiny details, big complaint

You’ll hear, ‘You’re asking me to remember every little detail,’ after you ask a liar a normal question. It could be about who was there, or it could be about what time it happened, the question doesn’t matter.

What does matter is that they’re trying not to answer the question. They’re acting like asking them for more information is a huge issue and something they simply can’t do. 

Sources: Please see here for a complete listing of all sources that were consulted in the preparation of this article.