How To Become A Good Liar (with Pictures) - WikiHow

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Terms of Use wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. Learn why people trust wikiHow How to Become a Good Liar PDF download Download Article Co-authored by Kelli Miller, LCSW, MSW

Last Updated: April 26, 2025

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  • Constructing the Lie
    • |
  • Avoiding Poor Body Language
    • |
  • Maintaining the Lie
    • |
  • Video
    • |
  • Q&A
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  • Tips
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  • Warnings
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This article was co-authored by Kelli Miller, LCSW, MSW. Kelli Miller is a Psychotherapist based in Los Angeles, California. Kelli specializes in individual and couples therapy focusing on relationships, depression, anxiety, sexuality, communication, parenting, and more. She is the author of “Love Hacks: Simple Solutions to Your Most Common Relationship Issues” which details the top 15 relationship issues and 3 quick solutions to each. She is also the award-winning and best-selling author of “Thriving with ADHD”. Kelli co-hosted an advice show on LA Talk Radio and was a relationship expert for The Examiner. She received her MSW (Masters of Social Work) from the University of Pennsylvania and a BA in Sociology/Health from the University of Florida. This article has been viewed 192,552 times.

Lying can be a survival tool or used for a game of poker. It should never be done to break the law or put yourself or others in danger. Lying can be hurtful and cause a lot of people distress. While there are only a handful of times when lying is appropriate, you can improve your skills with practice and by knowing what to avoid. Good luck with your fabrications; after all, the truth is overrated.

Steps

Part 1 Part 1 of 3:

Constructing the Lie

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  1. Step 1 Have a reason. 1 Have a reason. Only lie when you have something gain to give your self motivation. If you limit your lies then people will not realize when you have finally broken. People who lie a lot, like pathological liars, cannot help themselves and tell a lot of little lies that can easily get them caught. It’s difficult to keep track of a lot of lies and people know that they can’t trust you once you have been caught lying several times.[1]
  2. Step 2 Lay your groundwork. 2 Lay your groundwork. Work out all the details prior to telling your lie. Like anything, practice makes perfect. The more you tell the same lie, the easier it will become. It is easy to find out if a person is coming up with a lie on the spot as details become vague and nervousness begin to set in.[2] Advertisement
  3. Step 3 Tell a misleading truth. 3 Tell a misleading truth. The more truth you can add to a lie the easier it will be to tell. It is more like you are leaving a false impression rather than blatantly lying. Attempt to avoid follow-up questions by coloring in as much truth as you can.[3]
  4. Step 4 Identify your target. 4 Identify your target. Get inside the head of someone listening to your head. A good liar uses the same tools as a good communicator. Empathize with your listener and anticipate what he wants to hear. Learn what your listener knows and identify his interests and schedule to avoid any missteps in your story that may trigger any suspicion.[4]
  5. Step 5 Watch your body language. 5 Watch your body language. Lying can make you nervous and scared. You may not notice yourself fidgeting, stuttering, or breaking eye contact. People can pick up on your non-verbal cues, so try to limit gestures that are not already natural to your personality.[5]
    • Some people talk faster than normal or give too much eye contact to overcompensate for a lie. Rehearse in front of a mirror or a friend to get the most natural delivery you can.
  6. Step 6 Prepare for emotional context. 6 Prepare for emotional context. Liars will memorize the details about the lie but may get caught off guard when asked about the emotions associated with their actions. They may sound mechanical when delivering their answers. Be prepared to add emotion to the details of your lie.[6]
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Part 2 Part 2 of 3:

Avoiding Poor Body Language

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  1. Step 1 Relax your lips. 1 Relax your lips. Lip compression may be a negative reaction when telling a lie. People testifying often compress their lips just before relaying something negative. Get through a tough line of questioning with relaxed lips.[7]
  2. Step 2 Breathe easy. 2 Breathe easy. Whether your breathing increases or even hyperventilates, it’s usually a sign that you are nervous or psychologically uncomfortable. Even taking a long deep breath can be a sign that you are collecting yourself before a lie.[8]
  3. Step 3 Do not touch your neck. 3 Do not touch your neck. Many people unconsciously touch their neck when they are nervous or anxious. Usually, people reach for the dimple of their neck. Many may adjust their tie or fidget with it instead of touching their neck.[9]
  4. Step 4 Square your body to the person you are talking to. 4 Square your body to the person you are talking to. A contentious topic or difficult conversation may cause you to turn your body away. You may subtly shift in your seat and turn your stomach away from an accuser or from someone you are lying to. You may even create a barrier by crossing your legs while still keeping eye contact. Keep your torso facing your listener especially if they have just asked you a question that you need to lie to answer.[10]
  5. Step 5 Keep your hands away from your eyes. 5 Keep your hands away from your eyes. People may reach for their glasses or rub their eyes when in a difficult conversation. Keep your hands in a neutral and natural position when telling a lie to avoid suspicion.[11]
  6. Step 6 Keep your thumbs visible. 6 Keep your thumbs visible. Hiding or lowering your thumbs may reveal that you are insecure or aren’t committed to your statement. When people are more emphatic they tend to have their thumbs straight and apart.[12]
  7. Step 7 Keep your speech natural. 7 Keep your speech natural. Any changes in your regular speech patterns and behaviors may raise suspicions. Some people may talk faster, high-pitched, or give more errors in speech when nervous. Liars also want to convince you of a lie, so they may repeat details to hammer it home. Avoid overly repetitive information as you speak naturally.[13]
    • Liars may probe with repetitive information and their spoken words may be weaker at the start and end of a statement as they try to read their listener to see if their lie is being believed.
    • Repetition may be difficult to read especially if using a cellphone as coverage may become spotty and cause repetition.
  8. Step 8 Factor in the length of a pause. 8 Factor in the length of a pause. Cultural context may dictate how you utilize pauses in your delivery. However, if you use a pause, it may come off as regrouping to deliver a lie. Saying something like, "That is a good question" may come off as you delaying to gather your thoughts as you commit a lie.[14]
    • Both honest and deceitful people use pauses in speech, so this will be a difficult factor to detect without proper context.
    9. Advertisement
Part 3 Part 3 of 3:

Maintaining the Lie

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  1. Step 1 Keep your facts straight. 1 Keep your facts straight. Keep consistent. Depending on how big of a lie you tell, it may be hard work keeping everything in order. Remember every detail you lay out even if it is not asked of you. Make sure not to give different information to different people.[15]
  2. Step 2 Remain focused. 2 Remain focused. You must commit to your lie. Any wavering makes it obvious that you are lying. Lying may feel unpleasant as fear and guilt set in. Your body language and facial expressions may give away your emotions as you want to get the lie over with. You must commit to your lie as if your were telling the truth.[16]
    • Some people enjoy the thrill of lying and do not show shame or remorse. Lying is not a socially acceptable activity, so it is all right if you do not get any joy from what you are doing and find it difficult to commit.
  3. Step 3 Increase the pressure. 3 Increase the pressure. If you are being accused of a lie, turn the table and trick your accuser. You may ask questions like “Why were you there, do you not trust me?” or “I am sure you do not want your friends hearing what you have been up to either.”[17]
  4. Step 4 Distract from the issue. 4 Distract from the issue. Politicians use this technique to drive people away from other issues. People are uncomfortable accusing others so any chance they have to change topics may be seen as welcomed relief. For example, if a politician is asked about his views on the economy, he may drive the conversation to immigration. Similarly, if you are being accused of missing curfew, you may move the conversation to your brother driving without a license.[18]
  5. Step 5 Bargain with your accuser. 5 Bargain with your accuser. Avoid responsibility from your lie by softening or even erasing anything you are being accused of by admitting to things that your accuser will find satisfactory. If you can deflect blame you will also deflate the anger associated with it.[19]
  6. Step 6 Know the nuances. 6 Know the nuances. People may ask you questions several different ways to try to catch you in a lie. Make sure that you not only know the details, but also the specifics when more precise questions are asked.[20]
    • But it is best to be honest and it is never too late for it.[21]
    • For example, you can tell your partner directly that you have not been honest about some things.[22] [23]
    • You can rectify a situation by being honest.[24] [25]
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Community Q&A

Search Add New Question
  • Question How do I respond if I'm asked a question I have not pre-planned for? Community Answer Community Answer If you are really desperate, come up with something on the spot with as many references to the event as possible. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 11 Helpful 99
  • Question If I tell two different things to two different people, and they start discussing things with each other, and they both discover that I am lying, what do I do? Tom De Backer Tom De Backer Top Answerer If you don't want to tell the truth, at least tell the same lie to everyone. Keep your lies non-specific. Say "I went out", rather than "I went to watch the new Marvel superhero movie with John." If caught, either immediately admit that you were lying, or keep it up at all costs. Ways out are: "Really? I said that? I must have gotten things mixed up." "No, I think you misremembered what I said." "I have no idea what you are talking about." "That is so yesterday's news." "Look, I don't want to talk about it and I don't want to tell you why." Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 7 Helpful 72
  • Question What do I do if the person I am lying to knows I have a lying face and can tell if I am lying? Community Answer Community Answer Go to a mirror and say something as usual. Pay close attention to your face. This is the face you will be trying to keep. Now say a lie. You may or may not notice a different face. Keep trying to pull a normal face while saying different made-up lies. After a while, your "lying face" will be a bit less noticeable. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 11 Helpful 65
See more answers Ask a Question 200 characters left Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. Submit Advertisement

Video

Tips

  • Don't break eye contact when lying; act like you're owning up to the "truth". Thanks Helpful 10 Not Helpful 0
  • To be good at lying, you have to believe the lie you are saying. Thanks Helpful 10 Not Helpful 1
  • Keep your lie short because the larger you lie, the more details you have to remember. Thanks Helpful 9 Not Helpful 1

Tips from our Readers

The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.
  • Only use original lies; don't borrow your lies from other people. It's too hard to remember your story if you didn't come up with it, and original lies are much easier to recall when it comes to the details.
  • Avoid telling multiple conflicting lies. If you tell one person you're busy on Saturday and then tell another person you're free on Saturday, they might end up crossing paths and uncovering the truth.
  • Be confident, but don't be so confident that you feel comfortable adding to your lie all the time. If you start adding too much detail, it may stand out as odd or inauthentic.
Submit a Tip All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published Name Please provide your name and last initial Submit Thanks for submitting a tip for review! Advertisement

Warnings

  • Lies can be dangerous and hurtful and get you in a lot of trouble when you are caught. Thanks Helpful 78 Not Helpful 14
  • Never lie to break the law or to put yourself or others in danger. Thanks Helpful 69 Not Helpful 20
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References

  1. ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/extreme-fear/201005/top-ten-secrets-effective-liars
  2. ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/extreme-fear/201005/top-ten-secrets-effective-liars
  3. ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/extreme-fear/201005/top-ten-secrets-effective-liars
  4. ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/extreme-fear/201005/top-ten-secrets-effective-liars
  5. ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/extreme-fear/201005/top-ten-secrets-effective-liars
  6. ↑ http://www.forbes.com/sites/maseenaziegler/2014/07/03/secrets-from-the-fbi-how-to-spot-and-really-nail-a-liar/
  7. ↑ http://www.forbes.com/sites/maseenaziegler/2014/07/03/secrets-from-the-fbi-how-to-spot-and-really-nail-a-liar/
  8. ↑ http://www.forbes.com/sites/maseenaziegler/2014/07/03/secrets-from-the-fbi-how-to-spot-and-really-nail-a-liar/
  9. ↑ http://www.forbes.com/sites/maseenaziegler/2014/07/03/secrets-from-the-fbi-how-to-spot-and-really-nail-a-liar/
More References (16)
  1. ↑ http://www.forbes.com/sites/maseenaziegler/2014/07/03/secrets-from-the-fbi-how-to-spot-and-really-nail-a-liar/
  2. ↑ http://www.forbes.com/sites/maseenaziegler/2014/07/03/secrets-from-the-fbi-how-to-spot-and-really-nail-a-liar/
  3. ↑ http://www.forbes.com/sites/maseenaziegler/2014/07/03/secrets-from-the-fbi-how-to-spot-and-really-nail-a-liar/
  4. ↑ http://www.forbes.com/sites/maseenaziegler/2014/07/03/secrets-from-the-fbi-how-to-spot-and-really-nail-a-liar/
  5. ↑ http://www.forbes.com/sites/maseenaziegler/2014/07/03/secrets-from-the-fbi-how-to-spot-and-really-nail-a-liar/
  6. ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/extreme-fear/201005/top-ten-secrets-effective-liars
  7. ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/extreme-fear/201005/top-ten-secrets-effective-liars
  8. ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/extreme-fear/201005/top-ten-secrets-effective-liars
  9. ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/extreme-fear/201005/top-ten-secrets-effective-liars
  10. ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/extreme-fear/201005/top-ten-secrets-effective-liars
  11. ↑ http://www.forbes.com/sites/maseenaziegler/2014/07/03/secrets-from-the-fbi-how-to-spot-and-really-nail-a-liar/
  12. ↑ Kelli Miller, LCSW, MSW. Psychotherapist. Expert Interview
  13. ↑ https://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-5775/5-Reasons-to-Be-Honest-in-Love.html
  14. ↑ Kelli Miller, LCSW, MSW. Psychotherapist. Expert Interview
  15. ↑ https://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-5775/5-Reasons-to-Be-Honest-in-Love.html
  16. ↑ Kelli Miller, LCSW, MSW. Psychotherapist. Expert Interview

About This Article

Kelli Miller, LCSW, MSW Co-authored by: Kelli Miller, LCSW, MSW Psychotherapist This article was co-authored by Kelli Miller, LCSW, MSW. Kelli Miller is a Psychotherapist based in Los Angeles, California. Kelli specializes in individual and couples therapy focusing on relationships, depression, anxiety, sexuality, communication, parenting, and more. She is the author of “Love Hacks: Simple Solutions to Your Most Common Relationship Issues” which details the top 15 relationship issues and 3 quick solutions to each. She is also the award-winning and best-selling author of “Thriving with ADHD”. Kelli co-hosted an advice show on LA Talk Radio and was a relationship expert for The Examiner. She received her MSW (Masters of Social Work) from the University of Pennsylvania and a BA in Sociology/Health from the University of Florida. This article has been viewed 192,552 times. 11 votes - 73% Co-authors: 26 Updated: April 26, 2025 Views: 192,552 Categories: Lies and Fabrication

Medical Disclaimer

The content of this article is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, examination, diagnosis, or treatment. You should always contact your doctor or other qualified healthcare professional before starting, changing, or stopping any kind of health treatment.

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Article SummaryX

Being a good liar is about sticking to your story and keeping your body language under control. Plan all of the details of your lie before you tell it so you don’t have to think on your feet and risk giving yourself away. Base as many of the details as possible on the truth, since this will make your lie more realistic and easier to keep track of. When you lie, avoid fidgeting, stuttering, or breaking eye contact, since these are common giveaways. If you face the person you’re talking to and speak confidently, they shouldn’t suspect a thing. For more tips, including how to avoid awkward silences when telling a lie, read on! Did this summary help you?YesNo

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Reader Success Stories

  • Anonymous

    Anonymous

    Sep 26, 2016

    "I am already a good liar and I was just coming to check if this article is good or not. I was surprised because it..." more
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Did this article help you?

Yes No Advertisement Cookies make wikiHow better. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Kelli Miller, LCSW, MSW Co-authored by: Kelli Miller, LCSW, MSW Psychotherapist 11 votes - 73% Click a star to vote Co-authors: 26 Updated: April 26, 2025 Views: 192,552 Anonymous

Anonymous

Sep 26, 2016

"I am already a good liar and I was just coming to check if this article is good or not. I was surprised because it..." more Kimmi Owens

Kimmi Owens

Apr 23, 2017

"This helped me realize that I deserve better than a lying individual in my life. Now it's easier for me to let..." more Misty

Misty

Apr 6, 2021

"Wow, I know almost everyone actually believes I have no problems and I'm actually OK. This web page is great!" Rated this article: Anonymous

Anonymous

Feb 27, 2018

"Just checking this article out and it's pretty 'wow'! I liked it." Anonymous

Anonymous

Nov 28, 2023

"This helped me learn how to lie." Share yours! More success stories Hide success stories

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