When you like someone, it can feel almost impossible to know whether they like you back.
Even if the person is clearly interested in you, they may not be ready to admit it yet.
If you’re wondering whether that new crush likes you or not, there are a few signs to look out for.
You won’t know for sure until they give you a clear answer either way, but there are some telltale signs that will make things much clearer for you sooner rather than later.
Here are 21 psychological signs someone likes you but is hiding it.
1) They always want to be near you
If someone likes you, it’s a good sign.
But if they’re constantly near you or trying to spend time with you, it could be a sign that they’re hiding their feelings.
If someone isn’t comfortable expressing their feelings, there are some things to look out for.
They may be nervous around you.
They might avoid eye contact or seem distracted by something else.
They might ignore your attempts to talk to them and seem disinterested in what you have to say.
If this is happening, it could be a sign that they don’t like you as much as they claim to.
You should also try to get a sense of their emotional state by looking at their body language and listening to the tone of their voice.
2) They take extra care with their appearance when they know they’ll see you
If you’ve ever felt like there’s more going on than an easy-going smile, you’re not alone.
The feeling of being liked by someone, but also having that person conceal their true feelings is a common experience, and can cause all sorts of confusion.
This can be a confusing time, as you may find yourself taking extra care with your appearance in order to make sure that the other person sees only what you want them to see.
Of course, part of this is likely driven by self-consciousness, but there may be some other underlying cause as well.
If this sounds familiar, don’t worry too much about it – just focus on making yourself feel good about who you are and who you’re interested in!
3) They get tongue-tied or nervous in your presence
If you’re interested in someone and they show any signs of being taken, but aren’t sure how to approach you, then there’s a good chance that they’re tongue-tied.
When someone feels nervous around us, it can make them seem standoffish and unapproachable.
These are all signs that they might like you, but they just don’t know how to show it yet.
If you keep an eye out for these signs and keep your cool when it happens, then you can read their body language and gauge their interest.
There are also other reasons why someone may hide their true feelings.
They might be afraid of rejection or have some deep societal taboo against revealing one’s romantic inclinations.
4) They can’t seem to stop staring at you
When someone likes you but is hiding it, they can’t seem to stop staring at you.
There are a variety of reasons why a person might like you, but not be able to say it out loud.
Maybe you’re new, or the other person is afraid of rejection.
Whatever the reason, being on the receiving end of this can be really frustrating.
It’s like having this huge piece of yourself missing, and you just want to reach out and grab it.
When someone hides how they feel about you, it can make them seem distant and aloof.
5) They start acting like you to feel closer to you
Yes, it’s true! If someone likes you but is hiding it, they start acting like you to feel closer to you.
For example, if you’re shy and don’t want to make a move on someone, they’ll start being more aggressive and flirty.
If you’re confident and open but don’t want to show your full self to someone, they’ll start being more reserved and private.
Someone who likes you may also change their behavior in subtle ways to show their interest.
These changes are called “nonverbal signals.”
Nonverbal signals can be as simple as a smile or a touch on the arm – no matter how small these signals are, they still mean that the person is interested in you.
6) They find excuses to touch you or be near you
When someone likes you, but is hiding it, they find excuses to touch you or be near you.
They might try to use a simple compliment as an excuse to touch you, or they might try to sneakily get closer when you’re sitting next to each other.
If you feel like someone is being inappropriate with their behavior, don’t ignore it – just let them know that they need to stop.
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7) They always seem to be in a good mood when they’re around you
If you have a crush on someone but are not sure how to act, this is an easy way to tell.
If they seem happy and upbeat when they are with you, it’s a good sign that you’re getting closer to figuring out if they like you back.
And the more they spend time with you, the more likely it is that they are interested.
It could also be a sign of low self-esteem on their part, because they do not want to come across as desperate or needy.
One thing to remember is that liking someone doesn’t necessarily mean that they are into you.
They could just be happy to see you, or it could just be a friendly gesture.
More often than not, though, if someone likes you, there’s a reason for it.
8) They laugh at all your jokes, even if they’re not that funny
Someone who likes you but is hiding it, they laugh at all your jokes, even if they’re not that funny.
They like you in the same way that a parent might like their child.
While there is nothing wrong with this, it can make you feel insecure when someone likes you but is hiding it.
If this is the case, be sure to be yourself and don’t put on a front. It’s always better to be yourself and let them come to you.
9) They try to impress you with their accomplishments or talents
If someone likes you, they’re probably trying to show you that they’re worthy of your attention.
They’re likely to display their achievements and talents in an attempt to make themselves seem more impressive.
However, this may come across as insincere or disingenuous, since these actions aren’t necessarily something that they care about in the first place.
In addition, if they’re trying to impress you but are hiding it, it can be a sign that they don’t want to come off as too needy or desperate.
10) They get jealous of anyone else who seems to be getting your attention
When someone likes you but is hiding it, they get jealous of anyone else who seems to be getting your attention.
This is a common issue, as there are other people out there who like you too.
Even if you don’t reciprocate their feelings, this can cause problems and strain your relationship.
When someone likes you, it’s important that you let them know.
It doesn’t matter how long it’s been, or how many people already like you; just tell them that you like them too!
This will make them feel safe and secure in the relationship, rather than worried and insecure.
11) They constantly seek out your approval
Whenever someone likes you but is hiding it, they constantly seek out your approval.
If you continue to give them positive feedback and respond positively to their advances, they will gradually come out of their shell and start expressing their feelings more openly.
Now, don’t get me wrong – there are certainly times when it can be appropriate for a person to hide their feelings, especially if they’re worried about hurting your feelings or making a relationship awkward.
But if someone is consistently looking for your approval and positive feedback, then they might just be fishing for compliments or trying to get close to you in the hopes that you’ll eventually give them a chance.
12) They remember all the little details about you
When someone likes you but is hiding it, they remember all the little details about you.
You’re their favorite person when they see you and find you interesting, but when they’re not around or don’t know you well, they may forget your name when meeting someone new.
They may also not know what to say or add to the conversation because of this.
This means that you have to work harder to make a connection with them, and it can be frustrating for both of you if they don’t feel comfortable enough to express themselves.
13) They go out of their way to do things for you
It’s hard to know when someone likes you, and when they’re just being nice.
This can make it hard to understand their motives.
When someone goes out of their way to do things for you, it’s a sign that they’re interested in you.
Going out of your way means doing things like paying for your meal or buying you a drink.
It shows that they care about you, and want to show their appreciation.
It also shows that they like spending time with you, and want to be close.
14) They make sure you always have a drink or a snack, even if you’re not hungry
When someone likes you, it can be hard to tell.
Many people hide their feelings to protect themselves or because they’re worried that the person won’t like them back.
As a result, they may end up overindulging in food or alcohol to take away any awkwardness.
On the other hand, if someone likes you but is hiding it, they make sure you always have a drink or a snack, even if you’re not hungry.
If you’re unsure about how someone feels towards you, try avoiding drinks and snacks altogether until you get a clearer signal.
15) They always want to know how your day was
If someone likes you, they might not always show it.
If they like you but are trying to hide it, they might want to know how your day was.
They might want to know more about you and start to get close to you.
They might even try to ask you out on a date.
If this happens, you can tell them that you liked them too and would like them to go out with you.
Knowing that someone likes you is always good news and when someone likes you but is hiding it, they always want to know how your day was.
It shows that they care and they want to be closer to you.
16) They start talking about the future, even if it’s just small plans
Hiding one’s feelings can be a difficult task.
However, when someone likes you but is hiding it, they start talking about the future, even if it’s just small plans like dinner one day or seeing a movie.
It shows that they’re invested in your relationship and want to spend more time with you.
And this type of behavior is much more likely to keep a relationship healthy than someone who’s constantly telling you how much they care.
17) They get protective of you, even if you’re perfectly capable of taking care of yourself
For example, if someone likes you but is hiding it, they get protective of you, even if you’re perfectly capable of taking care of yourself.
They could be worried about what other people would say about being seen with you.
Or, they might be doing this because they want to make sure that you’re okay before they tell you how they feel.
Either way, it can lead to a lot of confusion and tension.
If you don’t want someone to get this type of protection over you, it’s best to just be open with them from the beginning.
18) They drop everything to help you out, no matter what it is
When someone likes you, but is keeping it a secret, it’s easy for them to drop everything to get your attention.
This means that they’re willing to do anything for you, and will go out of their way to make sure that you know how much they care about you.
While these types of gestures might seem obvious and unimportant, they are often the most effective way of showing that someone cares about you.
When someone drops everything to help you out, even if it’s completely unnecessary, it shows that they value your time and effort enough to make an effort to spend time with you.
19) They always have time for you, no matter how busy they are
If someone really likes you, they have time for you no matter how busy they are.
They’re the ones who send you messages to say “I’m thinking of you.”
When it looks like they don’t have time for you, they always find a way.
When someone likes you, they want to spend all their free time with you.
They want to tell you every day how much they like you.
That’s because when someone likes you, they care about how people see them.
If that person doesn’t like themselves, then that person won’t like other people either.
20) You catch them looking at you when they think you’re not looking
When someone likes you but is hiding it, you catch them looking at you when they think you’re not looking.
It’s kind of like a game of cat and mouse, and to the observer it must seem like the person is trying to hide their feelings from you.
But really, they’re just trying to keep themselves from making a big mistake.
Rarely do people act on their true feelings in real life, so don’t expect them to just do it for you.
21) They constantly find excuses to talk to you or text you
When someone likes you but is hiding it, they constantly find excuses to talk to you or text you.
They may be trying to figure out how they feel or what they want.
Sometimes they don’t know exactly how to say it.
But if you give them a chance, they might just open up to you.
And when someone likes you, trust your gut and go for it!
Conclusion
If a person likes you, they will let you know.
They will think about you, and talk about you to other people.
They’ll make it clear that they’re interested in you and happy to see you.
They will give you their phone number or email address so that you can text them, or even just to say hello in person.
They will probably leave you notes on your car or in your locker at school.
You might even catch them staring at you at some point! If you do, don’t be afraid to acknowledge it.
After all, this person likes you a lot, so your reaction will make them feel good about themselves.
