More often than not, full-grown adults turn into teenagers when it comes to finding out if someone likes them. They’ll get friends to bring it up, they’ll go out in group settings, or use flirty texts, but in a joking way, just to get away without being obvious.
It’s time for everyone to grow up. The truth is that finding out if someone likes you is pretty straightforward. You don’t have to ask at all, you can just tell. Hiding your attraction for someone is pretty much impossible, because even if you don’t say much of anything, other signs will. The things you do and say around the person will be done in careful consideration of their presence, even subconsciously.
15 signs people give away when they like someone
So how can you tell if someone likes you? Well, you just have to watch out for a few of these signs.
#1 Attraction. Even in a group setting, they’ll gravitate toward you. Think of it this way: when you go out and there’s a mixture of people present, you end up hanging out with people you already know and like, or with new people that you’re starting to befriend. The same goes for attraction. You’re going to want to gravitate toward that person, because you want to spend time with them. [Read: 15 obvious signs of flirting between a guy and a girl]
#2 Nervousness. When they talk to you, they may seem shy, or awkward. This is not always the case, but if the person gets shy around you, then it means you make them nervous, in a good way.
They may be trying too hard not to mess anything up, or they may be wondering what to say, to get the conversation going because they want to leave a lasting impression on you.
#3 Cock-blocking. When someone jokes about them *or something embarrassing they do* around you, they’ll try to jokingly derail the friend making the comments. No one wants to be made fun of in front of someone they’re attracted to, even if it is just a joke. If someone doesn’t legitimately get upset, but jokingly tries to stop the conversation from continuing, then they’re clearly trying to stop their friend from putting them in an awkward position in front of you. [Read: Who are cock blocks and why do they do it?]
#4 Stay in touch. They’ll find a reason to text you, whether it be a joke, plans, or even just emojis. When someone likes you, your presence is always welcome. However, if you’re not around, they’ll still try to get a hold of you. It could be a simple joke, a cute smiley face, or a “I’m bored, what are you doing?” text. Even if it isn’t something important, they’ll make up a reason just to talk to you.
#5 A keen interest. Rather than asking simple questions, like anyone else would, they’ll actually try to get to know you more. Questions about your education, goals, accomplishments, interests, musical taste, and hobbies are a dead giveaway. I mean, really, who wants to know so much about you all at once? [Read: Does he like you? 18 signs to decode his body language]
#6 The fake date. They will legitimately invite you out, even if it’s not an actual “date” at first. It could be them inviting you out to a movie with their friends, or out to eat at a casual place *not a date place*. It could even be them meeting you somewhere, like a local bookstore one of you loves. None of this classifies as a date, but this is them genuinely feeling out whether there’s chemistry, and working their way to asking you out. [Read: Is it a date or the two of you just hanging out?]
#7 Goody two shoes. They will always be on their best behavior around you. This means all the usual, obnoxious jokes and commentary they may say on a regular basis will be toned down, if not completely avoided, around you. It isn’t them lying about who they are, it’s just a natural response to someone you’re attracted to. Everyone wants to shine in a good light. The skeletons will come out of the closet eventually, more sooner than later.
#8 Split personality. It will seem like they’re more open around other people, than they are with you. It sounds contradictory, but if they seem more open around other people, then they obviously don’t care what these people think of them, or they already know these other people. Meanwhile, with you, things are a bit different. This person may care what you have to say, because they’re attracted to you, so they’ll be on their best behavior. [Read: 10 clearly noticeable signs of body language attraction]
#9 The little things. They will go out of their way to do nice things for you, even small things. For instance, they’ll offer to buy you a drink if you’re hanging out, or they’ll make you something. Maybe they’ll help you set up for an event, if you’re planning one. Even something as simple as holding a door open can mean so much more coming from someone who’s attracted to you.
#10 The infatuation stage. This is also the most reliable they will ever be, so enjoy it. Not to be negative, but realistically, anyone you date may let you down. No one is perfect, and sometimes, your expectations might be a little too high, setting the stage for disappointment.
It’s a natural thing though, not something to take to heart. That being said, the time before you date, to the first 6 months of dating, will be the time in which you’re both reliable. This person will go out of their way to be there for you, talk to you, spend time with you, help you when you need it, etc. [Read: The 10 stages of dating everyone goes through]
#11 Touchy flirty feely! It may happen right at the beginning, or build up to it, but at some point, there will be a ton of flirting. Some people are great at flirting right from the start, and can pull it off in a non-creepy, non-sleazy way. Others like to get to know you first, and build up a hint or two that you like them back, before they flirt.
Either way, flirting is a dead giveaway that they’ve at least considered your chemistry together, and they’re interested to see where it goes. It could be flirting over text, in person, over the phone, or all the above. [Read: 13 lusty signs of attraction you need to keep an eye on]
#12 The impression game. One way or another, they will try to impress you. This tends to be a masculine thing, at least that’s what society tells us, but the truth is, women want to impress guys too. If someone is telling you about their career path, and what they’ve accomplished toward success, then they’re trying to impress you. They might make a really good drink, or bake a really nice cake, or even show off their intelligence, and general knowledge about a variety of topics.
#13 Let the bond begin. You will bond over common ground. It could be music, books, movies, video games, or your love of spaghetti and meatballs. Literally, your common ground can be anything, as long as you’re both passionate about it. If this person is excited over your mutual love for whatever common ground you have, then there’s a chance they’re attracted to you. [Read: 50 easy questions to test your compatibility instantly]
#14 A keen eye. Say they’re the quiet type, they will still laugh at your antics, and sit somewhere close to you at social events. There are some super shy people out there: introverts, people with low self-esteem, or even just people who like to observe others more than they like to get involved. If the person is attracted to you, but they’re really quiet, chances are, they’ll make up for it by sitting somewhere near you, if not right next to you, and observe your answers to the dynamic at the event.
#15 Listen to the nosey people. Usually, someone will point this person’s behavior out to you, wanting to know what your stance is on the whole situation *they’re being nosey, aren’t they?*.
But then again, sometimes the best way to know if someone likes you or not is to just wait for someone else to point it out. It always happens – people noticing when there’s a special dynamic forming on the horizon. If they point it out, and they claim you’re an object of someone’s affection, then listen to them!
Asking directly may lead to some awkwardness, but there are other ways to find out if someone likes you. Something as simple as gravitating toward you, talking to you, and going out of their way to do nice things for you, are dead giveaways. If they actively try to impress you, find common ground, and be on their best behavior, then you should already know.
After all, when someone likes you, they can’t hide it – they’re programmed to do something about it, even if they are tiny hints. [Read: 20 unmistakable signs your friend is crushing on you]
So the next time you’re wondering if someone likes you, look out for the signs! If you like them back, don’t question or ask, just go with the flow of things, and watch your story develop naturally.
