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Establish a baseline -

Before you go making judgments, you have to find their baselines for how much they blink regularly, how expressive their eyebrows are, and where their eyes tend to go. It’s important to know so that you can tell when they’re acting out of the usual.

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The eyebrow flash -

When we arch our brows for less than one-fifth of a second, it’s a sign that you like someone or want to get their attention. No eyebrow movement upon a greeting with an old friend, for example, means they may not be happy to see you.

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Pupil dilation -

Our eyes dilate when we’re attracted—be it to a person, food, music, etc. The bigger the pupil size, the greater the interest. But don’t be fooled! Dimly lit places are popular for romantic encounters partly because everyone’s pupils dilate and give the impression of mutual attraction.

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Crow’s feet when smiling -

The absence of crow’s feet, which are the little wrinkles that form at the outer corner of the eyes, when a person is smiling means that they are only feigning happiness, whereas the presence of them when smiling signals genuine happiness.

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Prolonged eye contact -

A good amount of eye contact is 60-70% of the time, and in this range it indicates that someone likes you, that they’re trustworthy, and it even subconsciously indicates that they’re intelligent. It is believed to release phenylethylamine, the chemical responsible for feelings of attraction, as well as the love hormone oxytocin. If someone is maintaining good eye contact with you, they’re trying to build a good rapport.

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Too-long eye contact -

This can be a kind of threat, one which many can most easily recognize from disappointed fathers. It makes people feel uncomfortable on purpose. This can be a mistake that many men make as well when looking at women, because it easily comes off as creepy. Just make sure to look away every once in a while!

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Long stare after a lie -

The most common way people think they can detect a liar is if they look away while they lie. But studies have found that a liar actually engages in more eye contact than a truth-teller. To tell if someone has just told you a lie, see if they maintain intense eye contact afterwards. They’re doing this overcompensation both to try to convince you and to check your face for believability cues.

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Glancing sideways -

Looking to the left or right repeatedly is an indicator that someone is feeling doubt, a reluctance to commit, suspicion, or even contempt. When someone is doing this in conversation with you, it usually means they need more information or assurance.

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Rapid blinking with a slight smile -

Rapid eyeblink, or “eyelash flutter,” means “you’ve raised the blinker’s level of psychological arousal… faster blinking may reflect excitement,” according to David Givens, director of the Center for Nonverbal Studies.

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Rapid blinking without a smile -

On the other hand, rapid blinking without other positive body language can indicate that someone is experiencing an inner struggle, either because they don’t like something that was said or they are having a hard time expressing themselves or delivering a certain piece of information.

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Raised eyebrows and lowered eyelids -

This is an intentionally seductive look (think Marilyn Monroe), but most don’t know that seeing slightly raised eyebrows actually releases hormones in a man’s brain to protect and defend the female, reports Science of People.

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Steadily raised eyebrows -

This is typically an indicator of an active listener. If the person is speaking, on the other hand, it means that they’re trying to make an important point.

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Looking up to the left -

This typically means that someone is remembering or recalling something, tapping into the memory part of the brain.

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Looking down to the right -

People mostly do this when they’re creating or imagining a feeling or sensory memory, like if you were to imagine what it feels like to step in pudding. So if someone looks down to the right (creating a memory) when answering a question instead of up to the left (remembering something), it could very well indicate that they’re lying.

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Looking down -

Looking down in conversation indicates that someone is feeling insecure, unconfident, or they’re very pensive. In many cultures it’s a submissive sign of respect, and people are taught to lower their eyes when speaking with people of a certain status.

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Looking down, head tilted back -

But looking down can also indicate that someone feels superior to you if it’s paired with a head tilt backwards. That’s where the phrase “looking down your nose” at someone comes from.

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Looking up -

This is usually a sign that someone is looking for the answer or the right words. If it’s just a quick look, however, it may indicate exasperation.

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Eye blocking -

If someone is constantly touching their eyes or looking down and blinking a lot, it’s an indicator that they are uncomfortable, in disbelief, or in disagreement.

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Rubbing eyes -

Rubbing your eyelids is actually a self-soothing gesture that stimulates the vagus nerve and slows your heart and breathing rates when you’re stressed or fatigued. That’s why eye-rubbing usually indicates that someone is feeling anxious or stressed, as it also conveniently cuts off eye contact—which could reduce their anxiety.

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Slow eyelid closing -

When someone slowly closes their eyelids, it generally signals that they’re disappointed or upset, or intensely bored.

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Widened eyes and constricted pupils -

This indicates that someone is on high alert. They are either fearful or surprised at what is going on. The reason for this instinctive response, according to a 2013 study, is that widening eyes increase our visual periphery effectiveness by 9.4%, and constricted pupils increase our focus—we’re thus all the more able to spot signs of danger or incoming threats.

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Decreased blinking -

If someone suddenly stops blinking at their usual rate, it typically indicates that they’ve just heard something that upset them. They are now paying more attention.

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Squinting -

The ocular orbital muscles tighten around your eyes when you are suspicious or in disbelief of something. It could also indicate that someone is having trouble processing something—be it a contract they don’t like or complicated information.

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Slight squint and lowered eyelids -

This is a great indicator that there’s about to be an argument. A slight squint and lowered eyelids signals subdued anger and provides a short window of time before the anger erupts. If you see someone react to you like this and narrow their eyes, try to immediately clarify what you’re saying.

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Shifting eyes -

If someone’s gaze is darting all over the place, it indicates the processing of negative feelings like anxiety and doubt as the eyes seek to analyze the situation as if looking for a way out.

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Strong eye contact after speaking -

If you’re in a group of people and someone is speaking, then they finish what they were saying and look up at you, it is their way of handing over the conversation to you and inviting you to respond.

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Winking -

This one is already almost universally acknowledged as a sign of flirtation, but most people don’t realize it also serves to break up what could be otherwise seen as threatening or creepy steady eye contact.

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Shining eyes -

The romantic literature is true: love really does make your eyes shine! According to Focus Clinics, your eyes become more moist in the presence of a loved one, thus they appear shinier in the reflection of the light.

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Glazed eyes -

The look that appears to be looking far off into the distance even though someone is standing right in front of you indicates that they are not really paying attention—they’re disinterested and bored, or they’re lost in thought.

Sources: (Science of People) (Focus Clinics) (YourTango) (Psychologist World)

See more: Your three most annoying traits, according to your star sign

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