a tell
noun

- (in the game of poker) something that a player does without thinking about it that may give the other players information about what he or she intends to do, etc.

- something that someone does without thinking that shows what they are really thinking, especially if they are trying to deceive you

The Cambridge Dictionary

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WORD ORIGIN

The game of poker as we know it (and presumably the idea of “a tell”) was popularized in the American South in the early 19th century — on gambling riverboats in the Mississippi River and around New Orleans during the 1830s.

One early description of poker played on a steamboat in 1829 was recorded by the English actor, Joe Cowell.

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5 TELLS THAT SOMEONE COULD BE LYING

Tell signals are unconscious and involuntary, and taken together, they are suggestive that someone may be lying. These are the 5 most common:

(1) Channel Incongruence = body language that contradicts the spoken words, i.e. making a positive statement but not smiling

(2) Mouthguarding = covering or touching the mouth while listening, can be an indication of wanting to hide something

(3) Itching = touching, rubbing, or scratching the nose, mouth, cheek, or ear (the stress related hormone cortisol, can cause skin itching)

(4) Hoarse Voice = Frequent or excessive clearing of the throat (stress can reduce salivary gland activity resulting in a dry mouth)

(5) Fidgetting = playing with a pen or other objects on the table (when people are nervous or uncomfortable, they may fidget with their hands, tap their feet, or shift in their seats)

NOTE: It’s important to keep in mind that tells are not always accurate and can be misleading, subjects may simply be nervous, unsure of their facts,… or just struggling to find the right words — thus we should use tells in combination with other information and strategies to make informed decisions.

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TALKING POINT

“Always tell the truth, that way you’ll have less to remember!” (Mark Twain)

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SMUGGLE OWAD into an English conversation, say something like:

“Keep in mind that TELLS are not 100% indicative of lying — subjects may simply be nervous, unsure of their facts, or just struggling to find the right words.”

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