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Telling a guy you like him can be an incredibly nerve-wracking experience, especially if you’re shy or you don’t know if he likes you back. Fortunately, there are plenty of ways to let him know how you feel without directly telling him. It’s all about using body language, subtle hints, and flirtatious conversations to get your message across.
1. Get physically close to him
One of the most straightforward ways to show a guy you like him is to enter his personal space and get physically close to him.
Sit or stand close to him every chance you get, and don’t be afraid to face him directly and lean in closer when he’s talking to you. Leaning in is a great way to show him you’re engaged and interested in what he’s saying. In a crowded room, it also allows you to subtly isolate him from the group and create a more intimate and private space for just the two of you to talk.
Keep in mind that people have different comfort levels when it comes to personal space, so look for positive feedback that he’s enjoying your closeness before taking things to the next level. Over time, he’ll get used to having you close and may even mirror your actions.
2. Casually touch him
As you get more comfortable being physically close to him, you can start using flirty touches to really drive the point home.
Casually touch his arm, shoulder, or hand when he says something funny or interesting. As he gets more comfortable with your touch, let your hand linger for a few seconds longer than necessary to make it clear that you’re interested and enjoying his touch.
If you’re sitting next to him, let your leg “accidentally” brush up against his under the table and leave it there, so you maintain physical contact without coming on too strong. The more physical contact you have, the more obvious it will be that you want him.
3. Play with your hair and touch your neck
Women often subconsciously play with their hair or touch their necks when they feel attracted to a guy. Playing with your hair is a great way to draw attention to your face and show off your femininity. Touching your neck is a subtle hint that you’re interested in because it draws attention to a sensitive and endogenous zone of your body.
Other subtle body language cues of attraction include licking your lips, stroking the stem of a glass or necklace, and flipping your hair. Whether you’re doing it intentionally or not, he’ll definitely pick up on these signals and know that you like him.
4. Make strong eye contact
Eye contact is one of the strongest non-verbal cues you can use to show your interest in a guy. When he looks at you, hold his gaze for a little longer than usual before you glance away.
The timing is important here because staring for too long can come across as creepy, while breaking eye contact too quickly can make it seem like you’re not interested. Aim for a few seconds of solid eye contact, then look away and give him a chance to reciprocate. If he looks back at you with an inviting expression, it’s a good sign that he’s interested in you too.
Establishing eye contact when talking to him also allows you to build a deeper connection and create a more intimate atmosphere. Unsurprisingly, people who maintain eye contact are seen as more trustworthy, confident, and attractive.
5. Change the way you hug
If you like to hug him hello or goodbye, changing your hug dynamics is an easy way to increase physical contact and show interest without saying a word.
When friends hug, they usually make it brief and keep their bodies apart at the waist. To show him that you want more, give him a long hug and pull him closer so your bodies make full contact. When you pull away, don’t break contact too quickly – hold the embrace for one or two seconds longer than necessary to let him know it’s more than just a friendly hug.
If he responds well to your more intimate hugs, it’s a good sign he likes you and wants to increase physical contact. This is your cue to start casually touching him even more and take things to the next level.
Related post: Why do guys hug from behind? 8 hidden meanings
6. Kiss him goodbye
In some parts of the world, it’s completely normal to give friends and family a kiss on the cheek when you say hello or goodbye. If this isn’t the case in your culture, then you can use a kiss as an opportunity to tell him that you like him.
Once kissing him on the cheek becomes normal, you can subtly move your lips closer to his every time and let your kiss linger for a tiny bit longer.
7. Give him a unique compliment
Complimenting a guy will make him feel good and show that you like him without being too obvious. However, not all compliments are created equal.
To make your praise stand out from the crowd, choose something unique and personal about him that you genuinely appreciate. For example, instead of saying something generic like “you’re really cute,” try “I love the way you laugh when you’re joking around with your friends.”
You can also try complimenting him on something not traditionally seen as attractive. For example, you could say, “I love the way your mind works,” or “I love how passionate you are about your work.” These kinds of compliments show that you’re really paying attention and you think of him as more than just a pretty face.
8. Tease him
Playful teasing is an age-old way of flirting, and it’s a great way to tell a guy you like him without actually telling him. When you tease a guy, you’re showing him that you understand him on a deep level and you’re comfortable enough to joke around with him.
Make sure that your teasing stays fun and light-hearted. If you cross the line and tease him about his insecurities or flaws, it can come across as mean and will likely backfire.
Teasing is also an excellent opportunity to touch a guy in a playful and flirty way. For example, putting your arm around him when you tease him can lessen the tension and let him know that you’re only joking around.
9. Dress to impress
If a guy notices that you’ve made an extra effort to look good for him, it’ll definitely make him sit up and take notice. When dressing to impress a guy, wear something that shows off your best features. For example, if you have killer legs, wear a short skirt or tight-fitting jeans. If you have great cleavage, go for a low-cut top.
10. Ask for his help
How does asking a guy for help tell him you’re interested? Guys love to feel needed and appreciated by women – it’s a primal urge that’s been ingrained in them since caveman times. When you ask him for advice or help with something, it shows that you trust him and value his opinion.
Asking for help doesn’t have to be a big deal; the point is not to make you look weak or helpless. For example, if he’s good with computers, ask him to show you how you use a particular app. Even asking him to help you carry something heavy will let him be your knight in shining armor and trigger his instinct to protect and take care of you.
11. Text him instead
If you find the idea of telling a guy you like him face-to-face too intense, why not try expressing your feelings via text? The big advantage of texting is that you can take your time to craft the perfect message without worrying about being nervous and tongue-tied.
Texting also allows you to be extra creative and come up with flirty messages to grab his attention and show your personality. Using cute and sexy emojis, gifs, and photos are all ways to make your texts even more flirtatious and unique.
12. Get deep and meaningful
Asking a guy personal questions about his goals, dreams, and interests will show that you care about what’s important to him. And in return, discussing your hopes and fears will show vulnerability and trust.
When he talks about himself, listen with genuine interest and ask lots of open-ended questions, so the conversation keeps flowing naturally. Doing this will make him feel appreciated, respected, and understood – all of which will let him know you like him without telling him outright.
13. Pay attention to the details
Showing a guy you remember little details about him is a great way to subtly let him know you like him without telling him. For example, if he mentions that he likes a specific type of food or has an interesting hobby, make it your mission to find out more about it and surprise him by asking relevant questions.
15. Get active on his social media
Instead of just liking all his posts, take the time to write meaningful comments that encourage him to reply back and start a conversation. If things go well, you can move to text or private messages to keep the conversation going and get more flirty.
Another advantage of social media is that you can easily keep tabs on what he’s up to, who he’s hanging out with, and what he’s interested in. This will give you plenty of topics to discuss when you speak to him face-to-face.
16. Take selfies with him
Taking selfies with him and posting them on your social feeds lets the world know that you’re into him and aren’t afraid to show it. Putting your arm around him or sitting close together when you take the pic will signal that something special is going on between you.
17. Drop casual hints
If you don’t want to come out and directly say the words, there are lots of ways you can subtly drop hints that you like him. For example, saying, “I love hanging out with you” or “It’s so easy to talk to you” gives a big hint that you want to be more than friends.
Final thoughts
Even if you’re too nervous to say it face-to-face, it’s still possible to tell a guy you like him without actually telling him. Flirty touches, playful teasing, texting, and asking him for help are all subtle ways to let him know you’re into him without actually having to say the words “I like you.”
Being subtle is key – you don’t want to overwhelm him or make him feel like he’s under pressure. Take it slow and build up the intensity over time to give him plenty of space to fall for you in his own time.
Just remember to be yourself and let your unique personality shine through. If he likes you back, he’ll pick up on your signals and hopefully make his own move!
