Just as there are positive signs that will tell you if someone is attracted to you, there are also signals that indicate that they are not interested. Spot these, and you can make your exit with grace. You may also want to use these gestures to subtly discourage any unwanted attention you might be receiving, without causing embarrassment to you or the other party.
Negative signs to look for include:
- Keeping their distance
- Folding their arms tightly
- Leaning or turning away
- Using only fleeting eye contact
- Small pupils
- Tapping their foot or drumming their fingers
- Pursing their lips
- Hunched posture
- Fidgeting
- Clenching their hands
- Fiddling with objects, such as shredding beer mats, picking the labels off beer bottles or making napkin sculptures
- Looking over your shoulder or averting their gaze
- Shrugging shoulders
- Negative grooming gestures, such as pushing their nail cuticles back or picking fluff off their jumper
- Looking at the floor
- Fiddling with their collar
- No touching, not even accidental
If the person you are chatting with displays only 1 or 2 of these signals, don't worry too much - they may have their arms folded simply because they are cold! However, if they're showing 3 or 4 (or even more...) of the signs, then it may be time to make a swift exit.
