Talk with other class members about one of these situations.
• A successful lie that I once told
• A lie that I told that didn't work
• An occasion when I told a white lie
• When I was wrong to tell the truth
Can You Spot A Lie?
Here are eight ideas to help you spot other people's untruthfulness (or hide your own).
People often hesitate before starting a sentence containing a lie.
A change in pitch of the speaker's voice is often a sure sign.
When a speaker suddenly starts to move hands and feet while he / she is talking, this is a dead giveaway.
Watch for changes in the pace of delivery. A normally truthful person will speed up to get through a difficult lie as fast as possible.
The "Pinocchio" nose effect is another clear indicator to watch out for.If you lie your blood pressure will probably increase and this will make your nose itch. So when lying, a person often feels the need to touch or cover his / her nose with a hand.
After successfully completing a lie, speakers usually experience a feeling of relief from anxiety and may smile or start laughing for no apparent reason.
Changes in blood pressure may also cause changes in facial colouring. Watch out for blushing or sudden loss of colour.
Lying often makes people feel guilty, which makes it difficult for many poeple to maintain eye contact. If somebody cannot look you in the eye they are probably trying to lie to you.
Try to match the bold words above with one of the explanations in the grid below.
Word or Phrase
Definition / Explanation
to want to do something very much
something that clearly shows a secret or lie (informal)
to stop talking for a short time
looking at another person's eyes while you are talking
a feeling of being worried
the "musical" tone of a person's voice
the colour of somebody's face
how fast somebody is speaking
Do you agree with the ideas? How useful are they for everyday situations?