Talk Nerdy To Me’s: @StaffWriter

There are a number of ways someone can express their feelings toward you without opening their mouth. If you know what to look for, the signs they send through body language and posture will confirm how they feel about you.

Keep reading to learn the body language of “hate.”

Here are some common examples:

Crossing Arms or Legs

People fold their arms across their chest or cross their legs as a means of blocking themselves off from others. It can also be used to express frustration or anger toward someone else.

If the person you’re speaking with crosses his arms over his chest, then he may not like what you’re telling him and is preparing himself for your next words. If he’s leaning away from you and using this gesture, it could be an indicator that he doesn’t want to hear what you have to say.

You’ll likely get more of an understanding if you ask the person why they crossed their arms rather than assuming how they feel toward you without being direct about it.

Leaning Away

By leaning away from someone, the intention is the same as crossing arms or legs.

The person is actively making an effort to detach themselves from the situation at hand, which could be you.

If the person leans away from you while talking, he could be subconsciously trying to remove himself from your presence. If his body language reaches a point where it’s obvious that he’s not interested in being around you, then you may have done something to upset him.

Tight Lips

A tight-lipped smile shows displeasure.

The person may think that smiling is the polite thing to do, but if he closes his lips tightly and holds them together, it could mean he’s not happy.

This gesture can also show the person feels intimidated by you or stressed out in your presence. If someone offers you a tight-lipped smile while talking about something upsetting, there’s a good chance they don’t like what’s happening or want to continue with the conversation.

Rolling Eyes

If the person you’re speaking with rolls their eyes at you, it means they’re doubting whatever information you’re giving them.

It also conveys that they don’t believe everything you say is truthful or accurate.

It’s an offensive gesture that can imply the person is better than you and doesn’t want to be around you.

Touching Nose or Mouth

People touch their nose or mouth while speaking with someone if they feel threatened by them in some way.

Putting a hand over your face is often done subconsciously when the person feels insecure, intimidated or doesn’t like what they’re hearing. If they do this to other people while talking, then it could also mean that they don’t like those other people.

Inability To Maintain Direct Eye Contact

When the person you’re speaking with looks everywhere but at your eyes or constantly shifts his gaze, it can mean that he’s not comfortable in your presence.

He may feel inferior to you in some way and is unable to hold eye contact without feeling stressed out at the thought of doing so. It may also mean that he simply doesn’t like you.

Most people don’t make direct eyes contact with people they hate.

Staring You Down

If someone is constantly glaring at you, it could also be an act of dominance.

If they speak with harsh tones while staring you down, then it is a good sign that they don’t like you very much.

They might even hate you.

Avoidance in General

If you can feel that the other person is avoiding you and actively trying to take a detour whenever they spot you, then it could mean they don’t want to speak with you.

We usually physically avoid people we don’t like.

Failure to Smile

In some cultures, smiling is seen as a sign of friendliness.

If the person you’re talking to doesn’t smile at you, then it could mean that they don’t like you. We generally don’t act friendly or polite to people we hate.

Watch to see if they smile around other people.

If the person only drops their cheerful smile around you, odds are good they don’t like you very much.

Physical Aggression

A strong body language signal of dislike or hatred is physical aggression.

This can show itself in the form of glaring, eye-rolling or sneering.

It could also mean physical violence. Some people hate others so much that they feel the need to hit or push them.

Closing Off With a Protective Object

If the person puts their hand on their pocket or leans against a desk while you’re talking to him, it could mean they feel uncomfortable around you.

It may be an attempt to “cover” themselves physically in some way to make themselves appear bigger and more intimidating.

They don’t like your presence and see you as a threat.

Squinting eyes

People who hate you may squint their eyes when looking at you.

This makes their eyes look smaller and narrower. They might also scowl while squinting.

Humans squint because they don’t like the person they’re looking at and want to subconsciously demonstrate that something or someone is difficult to see.

Aggressive Pointing

Someone who hates you may gesture aggressively at you, using forceful stabbing of the finger or hand gestures to push you away.

This is done to threaten you and express hostility towards you.

Aggressive pointing is also a sign of authority (think of a teacher or parent pointing at a child). Someone pointing a finger at you is blaming, accusatory, and holding you responsible for something.

Stiff or Rigid Body Language

The person may exhibit stiff, rigid body language when talking with you.

Stiff body language includes:

• Fixed facial expressions

• A poker face

• Flaccid or limp arms or legs

• Reluctant hand gestures

Feet Directed Away From You

If someone’s feet are facing away from you, it could mean that they’re trying to keep their distance.

If the person points their feet towards an exit while speaking with you, then chances are good that she wants to leave the conversation. We usually point our feet toward where we want to go or what we like (and away from what we don’t like).