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There’s nothing more frustrating than trying to figure out whether a guy likes you or not. You wish he would just tell you how he feels so you can move on with your life or get together already.
But unfortunately, that’s not always how it works in the dating world. Even if a guy is interested, he’ll often hide his true feelings because he’s shy, scared of commitment, or worried that you’ll reject him if he makes a move.
He’ll give you mixed signals, constantly try to play it cool, and do everything he can to keep you guessing. It’s enough to drive any woman crazy.
Luckily, he can’t hide all the signs that he likes you, and lots of body language clues and behaviors will give him away. If you’re wondering whether a guy likes you or not, look out for these 29 signs.
1. The sexual tension is off the charts
You can feel the sexual tension build whenever you’re around him. He can’t stop glancing at you, and he’s always finding ways to touch you on the arm or “accidentally” brush his leg against yours under the table. Even more obvious, he can’t wipe the grin off his face when he’s around you, and everything you say seems utterly hilarious to him.
Everyone else can feel the sexual tension too, and your friends or coworkers are probably all placing bets on how long it will take for the two of you to get together.
2. You catch him stealing glances
If you lock eyes with him once or twice and he glances away, it could just be a coincidence. Accidental eye contact happens all the time, and it’s a natural reaction to glance away to avoid making the other person feel uncomfortable.
But if you keep catching him stealing glances at you over and over again, it’s a pretty clear sign he likes you. He can’t help staring at you, and it’s become an exciting game to see how much eye contact he can get away with before you notice.
If you really want to get his attention (or make him uncomfortable), turn the tables. When he meets your eyes, keep on staring at him with a smile on your face and see how long he can hold your gaze before he looks away.
3. His pupils dilate
When someone is attracted to you, their brain releases oxytocin and dopamine, known as “the love hormones.” These hormones have been shown to increase pupil dilation, which means his pupils might appear bigger when he’s around you.
Of course, the size of his pupils can also be affected by how well-lit the room is or how much caffeine or alcohol he’s drunk. But it’s still a great sign to look out for because it’s completely subconscious, and there’s nothing he can do to hide it.
4. He blows hot and cold
Blowing hot and cold is when a guy gives you mixed signals by acting affectionate and interested one day and cold and distant the next.
He’s probably acting this way because he’s confused and doesn’t know what he wants. He’s trying desperately to hide his feelings, but sometimes his attraction to you is just too strong to hold back. Other times, he’s aware that he’s getting too attached and starts to pull away or ignore you altogether.
Hot and cold behavior is very frustrating, and it leaves you feeling confused, rejected, and unwanted. If you’re constantly getting mixed signals from a guy you like, call him out and tell him how it makes you feel. He might not even realize he’s doing it.
5. He plays with his hair
Playing with his hair is a preening behavior designed to get your attention and make him look more attractive. If he fixes his hair, smoothes it down, or runs his fingers through it while talking to you, it’s a good sign he’s unconsciously trying to make a good impression.
Look out for other preening behavior, including straightening his clothes, adjusting his tie, or flicking bits of imaginary lint off his jacket.
6. He mirrors your body language
Mirroring is when a person copies the body language or gestures of the person they’re talking to. It’s a form of nonverbal communication designed to build rapport and make the other person feel more comfortable. For example, if you lean forward, he might lean forward too, or if you cross your arms, he might do the same.
Some people learn to intentionally mirror, but in most cases, it’s completely unconscious behavior. So if he’s copying your body language, it could be a giveaway that he likes you and is trying to hide it.
The secret weapon to make him obsessed with you
All men feel a powerful urge to compete. It comes from ancient times when every day was a fight for survival to protect their tribe and provide for their families.
The stakes are much lower today, but the competitive urge remains deeply rooted in male biology. Instead of fighting saber-toothed tigers, men channel their competitive energy into work, fitness, acquiring wealth, or earning the respect of their peers.
Imagine if you could harness all this competitive energy and make a man obsessed with winning your love?
You can. And all you need to do is trigger a biological switch inside him that will make him see you as the ultimate prize.
Relationship psychologist James Bauer calls this switch the “hero instinct,” and it explains why some women have men falling all over them while others struggle to find lasting love.
Triggering a man’s hero instinct taps into his competitive spirit and makes him see your relationship as an opportunity to prove himself as a man. Making you happy gives him purpose and a “game” to win.
Instead of you chasing him, he will jump through hoops to impress you and win your approval. In a matter of days, he’ll become more protective, committed, and attracted to you than you ever dreamed possible.
And the best part is that you can do all this without playing hard to get or acting like a damsel in distress.
This free video presentation from James Bauer will show you exactly what to say, what texts to send, and what to ask your man to trigger his hero instinct and make him utterly obsessed with you.
It sounds almost too good to be true, but it’s the real deal. James’ techniques use simple yet powerful psychology to help you tap into the deepest desires that all men feel.
7. He acts differently around you
When a guy starts acting differently around you, it’s often a sign that he’s developed secret feelings for you and doesn’t know how to deal with them.
A confident guy might suddenly become nervous or shy when you’re around and start to blush or stumble over his words. Or, a guy who is usually reserved might begin to act more outgoing and funny to get your attention and impress you.
These changes in his behavior can be very strange and surprising. Just go with the flow and hope that he quickly returns to his old self once he becomes more comfortable being around you.
8. He remembers everything you tell him
Like most people, he can barely remember what he had for lunch yesterday. But when it comes to you, he remembers even the most minor details you told him weeks or months ago.
He could tell you your favorite color, the name of your first-grade teacher, and what you thought about a movie you saw last summer without even having to think about it.
Why is his memory so excellent? He’s entirely focused on you, and he wants to know everything about you, no matter how unimportant it might seem. Even the most minor facts about your life get filed away to create a more detailed picture of you in his mind.
9. He finds excuses to help you
Helping you out is the perfect way for a guy to impress you without being obvious. It also gives him plenty of opportunities to spend more time with you and get to know you better without the pressure of a formal date.
So, if he’s always offering to give you a ride, help you with a project, or do something nice for you, encourage him to keep going and let him know how much you appreciate his help. Guys love to feel needed and essential, and there’s no better way to trigger his hero instinct and make him finally confess his feelings for you.
10. He notices little things about you
Perhaps he makes a comment when you’re wearing a new shade of nail polish. Or maybe he notices a new pair of earrings you can barely tell you’re wearing. He might even ask if you’re feeling okay when you’re having a bad day and trying to put on a brave face.
Noticing these small things might not seem like a big deal, but it’s a massive sign that he likes you. Without even realizing it, he’s showing you that he’s paying more attention to you than anyone else around him.
Also, look out for the type of compliments he gives you. If they are very specific and about things that most people would ignore, it’s another sign that he’s giving you special attention.
11. He finds reasons to touch you
A guy who likes you will take any excuse to get more physical contact with you. He might brush your arm while making a point or lightly touch your leg as he’s talking to you. In the office, he might “accidentally” bump into you when walking past or put his hand on your shoulder when he’s leaning over to ask you something.
Even if these touches last for a fraction of a second, they’re still significant. They allow him to get closer to you without being too obvious and give him a way to express his hidden feelings without saying anything.
12. He always seems happy to see you
When you walk into a room, look at his face to see how he reacts. Even if he’s trying to hide his feelings, he won’t be able to stop himself from smiling or looking happy when he sees you.
13. He keeps the conversation focused on you
Asking questions about your hopes, dreams, or where you see yourself in the future shows that he’s interested in getting to know you on a deeper level.
However, if he’s trying to hide his feelings from you, he’ll likely keep the conversation focused on you and avoid opening up about himself.
This can be frustrating when you’re trying to get to know him better, but don’t worry too much at this stage. The fact that he wants to know everything about you is a good sign, and he’s sure to loosen up and share more about himself once he feels more comfortable.
Related post: 250 questions to ask a guy (personal, fun & dirty)
14. He can’t hide being jealous
If he seems jealous when you date or flirt with other guys, it’s a clear sign that he likes you and doesn’t want to see you with anyone else. After all, why would he be jealous if he didn’t have strong feelings for you?
Jealousy is a very powerful emotion, and it’s tough for most guys to hide. He might try to play it cool and act like he doesn’t care, but his body language and behavior will give him away. For example, if you’re talking to another guy and he suddenly starts acting more macho or trying to one-up the other guy, it’s a telltale sign of jealousy.
Related post: 21 ways to make a guy jealous and want you more
15. He gets affectionate when he’s drunk
If he’s a lot more affectionate when drunk, it’s probably because the alcohol has given him the courage to be more open about his feelings for you.
Remember that you should take anything he says while drunk with a big grain of salt. When he finally does admit his feelings for you, make sure he’s sober, so you know he really means it.
16. He’s protective of you
Guys have an instinct to protect the women they care about. If he’s always looking out for you and trying to keep you safe, it’s a good sign that he likes you more than just as a friend.
A guy will show his protective instinct in all kinds of subtle ways. He might offer to walk you home at night, carry your heavy bags, or step up to defend you when someone is giving you a hard time or disrespecting you.
These are all examples of the hero instinct I mentioned earlier. Even if he’s trying to hide his feelings for you, the biological urge to protect you will be too strong for him to resist.
17. He puts his phone away
These days, it’s almost impossible to convince anyone to put their phone away for more than a few minutes. Putting his phone down and giving you all his attention shows that he wants to be in the moment and spend quality time with you without any distractions.
18. He doesn’t talk about other girls
Even though he won’t admit his feelings for you, he also doesn’t want you to think he’s interested in someone else. He’ll avoid mentioning other girls altogether to make sure you don’t get the wrong idea.
19. He’s extra nice to your friends
Being nice to your friends is an excellent way for him to lay the groundwork for the future when he’s finally ready to ask you out. If your friends already like him, they’ll be more likely to support your relationship and put in a good word for him.
20. He apologizes too much
Apologizing too much is a classic sign of nerves and insecurity, and he’s probably not even aware that’s he doing it. He wants to impress you but he’s constantly worried that he’ll say something wrong or make a fool of himself. The last thing he wants is to ruin his chances with you by saying the wrong thing and turning you off.
21. He likes all your social posts
Even if he’s trying to hide that he likes you, he’ll still probably hit like on all your posts without thinking too much about it. This tells you he’s paying attention to your social media and interested in what you’re doing.
22. He “accidentally” runs into you
A guy who likes you will find any excuse to be around you. He might “accidentally” run into you at your favorite coffee shop or show up at the same parties and events. He’s not stalking you; he’s just trying to ensure he’s in your orbit as much as possible.
23. He always looks good for you
If he’s trying to make a good impression, he’ll go out of his way to look his best for you. He might dress up a little nicer, style his hair differently, or even wear cologne (if he usually doesn’t).
24. He responds quickly to your texts
Texting is a perfect way for a guy to stay in touch with you if he’s trying to hide his feelings. There’s no chance his body language will give him away, and he can craft the perfect reply without feeling nervous.
If he responds quickly to your texts or sends lengthy answers, it’s a good indicator that he’s interested in you. However, some guys intentionally delay their responses to make themselves seem busy and in demand, so don’t read too much into it.
25. He makes jokes about you being together
Does he ever make jokes about you hooking up or becoming a couple? It might seem like he’s just messing with you, but he could be testing the waters to see how you would react if he did ask you out.
Why is he hiding his feelings from you?
So far, we’ve looked at many signs that he’s intentionally hiding feelings for you. But why won’t he admit the way he feels? Here are a few possible reasons:
1. He’s scared of rejection
If he’s been burned in the past or is generally a bit insecure, he might hide his feelings because he’s scared you’ll reject him. The thought of putting himself out there and getting hurt is just too much for him to handle.
2. He thinks you’re out of his league
If he has low self-esteem, he might think you’re too good for him and would never want to date an “ordinary” guy like him. Perhaps he feels like you’re too beautiful, too intelligent, or you have a big group of sophisticated friends, and he’ll never be able to measure up.
3. He’s scared of losing his independence
Some guys fear commitment because they think it means giving up their freedom and independence. If he’s used to being single and doing whatever he wants, he might be trying to avoid giving you the impression that he’s looking for a serious relationship.
4. He’s painfully shy
If he’s painfully shy or introverted, it will be difficult for him to open up and talk about his feelings. Whenever he thinks about making a move, he gets overcome with nerves and can’t go through with it. So instead, he does nothing and hopes you’ll make the first move.
5. He’s worried about his friends
He might be worried that his friends will give him a hard time if he admits that he likes you. There can be many reasons for this, including fear of acting vulnerable in front of his macho buddies or worry that he’ll lose touch with his friends if he starts dating you.
6. He doesn’t want to ruin your friendship
If you’re already good friends, he might not want to risk ruining your friendship by asking you out and changing the dynamic of your relationship. He values your company too much to risk losing it, so he keeps his feelings to himself.
7. He’s hiding his feelings at work
If he’s a colleague or you work in the same office, he might be worried about getting reprimanded or fired if his boss found out he was dating a coworker. In this case, it’s understandable that he would want to keep things under wraps at work.
Related post: 30 signs a male coworker has a crush on you
