When your spouse, friend, colleague, just about anyone in particular, tells you something, in reply to a question you have put to her, how do you know she is telling the truth?

Rather than just listening out for the answer, learn to read body language too, which can betray a lot more about the other party's genuine feelings than you think.

Body language expert Peter Collett, author of the Book Of Tells provided these clues to Daily Mail.

1) Eyes gazing upwards
She is looking heavenwards for help.  Also, people with a sense of self-importance do this, as it suggests that they are in touch with a bigger power.


2) Blinking
It's a sign that the person is thinking rapidly, and can indicate anything from worry, excitement, or even lying, as he is under stress.


3) Scratching nose
She could be lying. When telling an untruth, a person will want to cover up the source of the lie, which is her mouth. But doing that is too obvious, and her hand moves up to touch the nose, which conveniently covers the mouth.


4) Pursing lips
She is either angry, or you have something to hide. Clamping your mouth shut stops you from saying something which you may regret later.

5) Biting your lips
This is a sign of anxiety and nervousness. Biting at your lips stops you from saying anything, and people do this to stop themselves from blabbing.

6) Tilting her head
This move makes a woman appear more attractive to a man, and is often used in flirting. By doing this, she lowers her head and appears shorter than the man, and exposes her neck. She is telling the other person - "I trust you".

7) Ear massage
When a person fiddles with her earlobe, she is worried. The earlobes are full of nerve endings, which when massaged, provide very pleasant sensations.

8) Flicking of hair
Peter Collet terms this a 'youth display', and is a move used by older women to draw attention to themselves. With younger individuals, their hair have natural bounce, but the bounce is lost over time.


9) Raised eyebrows
You're fascinated by the person you're in a conversation with. It's a way to show interest without appearing dominating. But couple it with widened eyes, and you end up looking startled.

10) Furrowing of brows
A dominance gesture that is mainly used by men to indicate that they are in charge.

11) Legs apart
By standing with your legs apart, you're attempting to make yourself unshakeable by increasing your stability. When you adopt this stance in other situations, you're telling the other party that you can't be budged and won't change your mind.

12) Shifting your weight
You do this when you want to escape a conversation.  It tells the other party that you are ready to move on. Alternatively, men do it to appear more energetic when chatting to pretty girls.

13) Sitting like a pretzel
A person who sits with her legs crossed, tucking one feet behind the other leg, is hoping not to be noticed.


14) Crossed legs
This pose indicates she has no intention of moving. Good or bad, depending on how interesting a dinner partner she is.

15) Sitting wide
You want to take charge and are taking up as much communal space as possible to appear larger and dominating.

16) Showing your open palms
An indication of acceptance, good intentions and that you are open to new ideas.


17) Direction of where her foot points
Follow where your conversation partner's foot points. If it's towards you, you've got her attention. If it is to the door, she wants to leave.

18) Knuckle display
This is a self-protective display and the opposite of open palms.

19) Hiding your hands
You have something to conceal and don't want to reveal anything.