Body Language Signs He Secretly Likes You
Is there someone in your life that you’re attracted to, but you’re not sure if they feel the same? It's common to want to know how to tell if a guy likes you or not, especially if you're considering taking things to the next level. Are you looking for signs – but not sure if you’re reading them right? It might be frustrating for you to not know quite where you stand, but often there are signs. Learning how to read body language and understanding subtle signs and cues might tell you more than you think.
Signs That May Indicate They Like You
If you meet someone via a dating app, or a friend set the two of you up, then there is an understanding from the beginning that there might be mutual interest between you. If the first time you met was on a date to see if there was a spark, then romance should be on both of your minds. There probably won’t be any mistaking of your intentions, especially when something nerdy such as science pick up lines are already dropped.
Where things get potentially complicated is if you know someone in a different capacity and you’re not entirely sure what their intentions are toward you. Maybe you met them at work, so you knew them professionally before there was any possibility of romance between you. Perhaps you knew them from childhood and the two of you were platonic friends before you began to look at them differently. There are lots of other scenarios where you can’t be quite sure if they could ever think of you as more than a colleague or a friend. So, does my guy friend like me? This is where you’ll need to rely on body language signs to try to clear up the confusion and catch those split-second cues if you hope to become involved with them.
They Angle Their Body Toward You
Body language might not be on their mind, but if they feel casual about your relationship with them, then they won’t always sit as though they are fully engaged with you. Think about it this way. If you’re fully invested in a TV you’re watching, you’re going to square yourself up in such a way that the screen is centered in your field of vision. It’s a subconscious thing that people tend to do that allows you to zero in on the object that has fully captured your attention. If you have your TV on for background noise, by contrast, then you might not be looking directly at it.
This is similar to you and the person you like. If they feel casual about you, then they might not have their body locked in on yours. If they are romantically interested, they’ll be angling their face, chest, and shoulders so that you are directly in front of them and they are paying attention to you. This tells you that nothing else around the two of you is as important to them as you are. If the two of you are standing and facing each other, you should see both of their feet pointed directly at you. All of these can be reliable indicators that you are the most compelling thing around them, and they want you to know it.
They Lean Into You
If someone is interested in what you have to say and has an attraction towards you, they will also lean in slightly. People lean in toward things that they like, and they lean away from things that repel them. It’s not something that’s going to be obvious in most cases, but you should still watch for it. They might even ask you to repeat yourself sometimes as an excuse to move closer to you and move into your personal space.
They Smile A Lot
If someone often smiles when they are in your presence, that’s also a potential indicator that they like being around you. But the kind of smile also matters. If a person smiles at you often with a broad, ear-to-ear grin, they’re making it known that they’re into you. They like the way you make them feel and what you have to say. If they’re showing you a lot of teeth, that’s a great sign. The wider the grin you get from them, the more likely that they have feelings for you and view you as an attractive person.
You might also notice the way their mouth moves, for example, if their lips part frequently when you two are together. This could indicate the desire to want to imitate a kiss.
They Tell You With Their Eyes
Along with smiling, you might also take note of their eye movements. When they see you, their eyebrows raise on instinct to signal their joy to see you, along with a smile. If the person you’re interested in cannot take their eyes away from you but doesn’t look at other people like that, then that’s another way for you to know that you have their full attention. Their eye contact might be directly aimed at your entire face, not just your eyes, and their pupils dilate when they see you. This is a good indication that they are interested in you, too.
They Mirror Your Movements
If someone is attracted to you, another body language cue is imitating your movements. Again, this will be subtle. If the two of you are sitting in a booth at a restaurant and you touch your face, tilt back slightly, or laugh, look to see if they do something similar. Though they will probably not be aware of it, their body language is trying to tell you that the two of you are on the same wavelength. It’s them saying that they like you and are trying to connect with you. They’re aiming for mutual trust and understanding.
They Groom Themselves When You Come Closer
If you’re across the room from the person that you like and you start moving in their direction, try to notice if they smooth their hair back, straighten their shirt, or do anything else to adjust their appearance. As humans, we try to look our best around someone we like. This is a good sign that they are trying to impress you, so they’re going to want you to see the best representation of themselves that they can.
They Initiate Physical Contact
Not all physical contact is romantic, but pay attention. Are they initiating physical contact they haven’t before, such as sitting closer than normal? This sudden physical contact can be a sign that they are into you as well.
Telling Someone You Like Them
If you think the person you like is attracted to you as well, you may wonder why they don’t just have a straightforward conversation with you so that you’ll know. Maybe they’re shy or nervous and are concerned about rejection. If they are a coworker or a classmate, they might not want to make things awkward between you. If they make their feelings clear that and you’re interested in pursuing anything further, then it’s going to be weird for the two of you to be around each other – at least for a bit.
If you’re seeing the hints that the person you like may be attracted to you, you may decide it’s time to take the lead. Try to be casual about it and keep things light. You can ask if they want to go on a date with you or if they’d like to meet up in a setting away from where you normally see them. Don’t make it sound like a big deal, but also be clear about your intentions. That will force them to cut through any possible ambiguity and make a decision one way or another.
Instead, you’ll need to be more up front about the depths of your feelings. You may decide it’s time to put all of your cards on the table. You’ll want to find a moment when the two of you can be alone and you can simply tell them how you feel and ask if they feel the same way.
A total outpouring of how you feel might push them away. If you have been friends for a long time though, and now you want to be more, then you probably trust this person not to hurt you and you can be more expansive about your hopes for the relationship. If this is the route you take, be careful and take a deep breath. If you come clean and it turns out that this person wants to stay friends rather than become romantically involved, then you run the risk of heartbreak. Still, at least you will know conclusively one way or another how they feel about you. You can then stop wondering and move on.
Are You Afraid Of Rejection?
Talking about how you feel to a person you like can make you feel anxious. That’s normal. The fear of rejection – even if you anticipate rejection without actually being rejected – can cause feelings of jealously, loneliness, shame, sadness, embarrassment, and even social anxiety. But that doesn’t have to stop you from taking a chance.
Also, you may want to speak to a therapist if your anxiousness gets in the way of everyday life. A meta-analysis of studies found that cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) is the “gold standard” in helping patients deal with both anxiety and depression. CBT helps patients by identifying the root of their anxiety or depression, as well as false or negative thoughts and beliefs, then teaches patients how to reframe those thoughts in a more positive and accurate manner. Other studies have found that CBT is generally effective in helping patients maintain lower anxiety levels a year later.
With the growth of online therapy, such as through BetterHelp, it’s easier than ever to connect with a professional counselor. Online therapy has been shown to be just as effective as in-person therapy in many situations involving anxiety. For example, in one study of patients with social anxiety, participants were treated through the use of videoconferencing and found improvements in their quality of life. Improvements were also found in those experiencing depression. The study pointed to the effectiveness of successfully delivering cognitive-behavior therapy through videoconferencing and that it is equal to or better than face-to-face therapy.
Takeaway
It can sometimes be hard to tell if someone you like is interested in you, but there are signs to look for to give you a hint. If you need to talk to someone about a person in your life, then BetterHelp is there for you. Whether it’s getting up the courage to tell someone you like them, working through relationship issues, or dealing with feelings of rejection, a professional therapist can help you through the journey. Our mental health therapists would be happy to assist with some advice, and it’s a relief to have someone to speak to who is not directly involved with the situation. You can meet with a counselor when it’s convenient and wherever it's comfortable.
Commonly Asked Questions On This Topic Found Below:
How do you tell if a man is attracted to you but hiding it?
One way to know if a man is attracted to you but hiding it is by paying attention to open body language signs that he likes you. For example, if he likes you but doesn’t want you to know it, he might:
- Lock eyes with you or hold eye contact for longer than other guys and he may follow you with his eyes across the room. He might also raise his eyebrows when you’re talking, which is a body language sin that he’s paying attention while you speak. Some people say that if his eyes dart quickly between your eyes and your mouth and lips, he’s probably interested in you.
- Visual voyaging. Building upon the previous sign, this is when he does a quick scan of your whole face, hair, and body thinking you won’t notice. If he’s really into you, you probably won’t see him looking at other women this way.
- Pupil dilation. This might be hard to see, but science shows that our pupil size increases when we’re looking at someone we’re attracted to. So, if you happen to be sitting very closely together making eye contact and you pay close attention, watch if his pupils get bigger. This can be a good sign that he’s interested.
- Leg positioning. Pay close attention to his legs: if they are crossed and you notice his top leg lightly touch yours while you’re sitting next to each other or casually talking, this can be a typical male body language sign of attraction during social interactions.
- Fixing his hair. If you notice that he’ll fix or touch his hair every time that you walk in but won’t do it when he sees another woman, this is a sign that he’s secretly attracted to you.
- He’ll lick his lips when you’re talking. This is a typical body language sign stereotype from TV and movies, but it does hold up scientifically. When you’re attracted to someone your mouth produces extra saliva, which makes you more likely to lick your lips. So, if you catch him licking his lips, even if he’s not trying to act flirty, this is his body’s way of showing you that he likes you.
How to tell if a guy likes you or your body?
It can be hard to tell if a guy likes you for more than just your body, especially when you’re getting to know each other. Luckily, while everyone is different, there are some tell-tale signs that many guys will show when they’re really attracted to someone:
- He tells you directly that he’s interested in a future with you
- He asks if he can meet your friends and family and wants you to meet his
- He always has time for you
- He’ll list everything he likes everything about you beyond your body
- He looks nervous around you, for example, he touches the visible dip area between his neck and collarbone when you’re around
- He’s a gentleman
- He’s not seeing other women
- He says ‘I love you’
How do you know if someone secretly loves you?
Certain body language, like licking his lips, moving his legs closer to you, asking about other men in your life, and raising his eyebrows while you talk, can clue you in about someone secretly liking you. Another way of knowing is asking them directly, or, if you like them too, telling them that you’re attracted to them and watch his reaction.
What are signs of attraction?
There are two types of signs of attraction: physical or body language signs and behavioral signs.
Body language signs that he’s interested in you can include:
- Lightly grazing your skin as you talk with each other
- He’ll stand next or close to you whenever possible
- Angling his body towards you
- Keeps continuous eye contact
- He smiles when he sees you
Behavioral signs that he’s attracted to you might include:
- He shows no interest in other women and doesn’t hide that you are the only woman in his life romantically
- He is interested in the things that you like
- He asks a lot of questions about you and your life
- He moves physical and emotional barriers to have more space to be with you
What are the physical signs of love?
Body language signs can look different in a man and a woman. When women are in love, they may start feeling more comfortable being vulnerable and opening up about their insecurities and emotions. This is also true for men, who are more likely to show their true selves to someone they are attracted to and tend to be the first to say ‘I love you’ in relationships. Other signs of being in love or deeply attracted to someone for both men and women include:
- Feeling extremely happy or euphoric when you’re with them or thinking about them
- Prioritize being together
- Making sacrifices to be with each other
- Accepting the for who they are
- Not being afraid to put in the work
- Thinking about the future together
Can you sense if someone is thinking of you?
Not really. While some people say that it is possible to tell if someone’s thinking of you if you tune in with your emotions very deeply, there’s no scientific evidence that his is true.