Most guys express their feelings for a girl they like as soon as they get the chance. There are scenarios, however, when he might be pretending not to like you even though he does.
He might be scared to express his feelings because he is too focused on other things to be in a serious relationship. Guys pretending not to like you are also likely to be in other relationships - he could even be married.
Other reasons a guy might be pretending not to like you include low self-esteem, anxiety, baggage from a previous relationship, or poor skills when it comes to connecting to other people.
So, if you have been suspecting that he likes you although he has not made it clear he does, then you might be right. But just to be sure, below are signs that might just confirm he is pretending not to like you even though he does.
1. He Blows Hot And Cold
It can be very confusing when someone you think has a romantic interest in you treats you nicely one minute and then seems detached the next. You are likely to notice this behavior in a guy who is pretending not to like you.
Usually, the cold detached behavior is a reflection of his insecurities. Such guys feel unworthy of your love and attention, and they might project this onto you by abruptly acting cold.
2. He's Protective Of You
Does he jump in when he feels that people are being hurtful toward you? If he is constantly trying to make you feel better when other people upset you, then he clearly likes you but does not want to declare his feelings for you.
You might also notice that he looks out for you as you cross the road, or defends you fiercely when someone questions your reputation. He might also seem to dislike anyone you don't like.
3. He Asks You Personal Questions
If he seems strangely interested in your past relationships, current entanglements, and other personal matters, then he might be secretly interested in you.
This is usually a sign that he is trying to find out if you are available before making a move. You usually notice this behavior at the beginning of the relationship.
4. He Avoids Talking About Other Girls
If the guy is always avoiding any conversation about other girls when you are in his presence, it might be because he wants you to see him as a potential romantic partner.
Even though he has not made his intentions clear, he would still be interested in making sure you realize that he is single and available.
5. He Seems Resentful Sometimes
As we mentioned earlier, a guy who is pretending not to like you is not typically very emotionally mature. So, he might seem resentful sometimes, usually because he is confused about his feelings for you.
This can get very frustrating, but it does not mean he doesn't want anything to do with you. It's just that he does not have very good control over his feelings.
6. His Body Language And His Words Don't Match
Even though he might straight up tell you that he does not like you, his body language will ultimately reveal the truth about his feelings for you.
For instance, he might seem incredibly happy every time he sees you. In general, guys are quite upbeat around girls they like, and this is something you will notice in a guy who likes you even though he might be pretending not to like you.
7. Whenever You Change Your Appearance, He Notices
Many girls complain that their partners don't notice when they change their hair or something about their appearance.
Most guys have a problem taking note of such changes as relationships evolve, but for a guy who is trying to get your attention, any adjustments you make to your look are instantly noticeable and worth commenting about.
So, if he makes an effort to compliment you on your new look, then he clearly likes you on some level.
8. He Likes To Tease You
If he makes fun of you while trying not to hurt you, then he might be pretending not to like you. He might make jokes that embarrass you, but in a way that makes you laugh.
This is an indication he is fond of you and would like you to have feelings for him and enjoy his company. Teasing is one of the most confusing signs that a guy likes you.
9. He's Trying To Act Too Cool
Being cool is a turn-on for a lot of people. However, if you can tell he is going overboard and ending up looking a bit cocky, it might be because he is trying to make an impression.
This is usually an indication that he is insecure and therefore overcompensating by trying to make himself seem better than he feels he is. Acting cool might also be his way of exacting his dominance.
10. He Does Not Pursue, But He's Always Available
A guy who likes you and does not want you to know what is going on might not chase you. However, you are likely to notice that he is always there when you need him.
This shows that he likes being around you, although he does not want to step up and declare his feelings towards you.
Some guys are afraid of the risk that comes with expressing their feelings towards you. Obviously, if he declares how he feels and you reject him, then he might no longer spend time around you.
11. He Always Looks Good Around You
Men are a lot less careful about their appearance. So, if you always feel that he looks his best around you, chances are that he is making an effort to look his best for you.
If you have never caught him poorly dressed, despite spending a lot of time around you, there is a good chance he is pretending not to like you.
12. He Has Been In Many Bad Relationships
Guys who have been hurt multiple times before while in romantic relationships will be less likely to express their feelings when they meet someone new.
So, if his dating history is filled with horror stories, then he might be pretending not to like you to avoid getting hurt.
Obviously, this should be accompanied by other signals on this list proving that he might be trying to hide his feelings toward you.
13. He Quickly Looks Away When You Try To Make Eye Contact
If you catch him looking away whenever you make eye contact, then he might be afraid that you will find out he likes you.
When a man is pretending not to like you, he will try to make sure that you never understand he has feelings for you. That is why he will avoid eye contact as that might betray his real feelings for you.
14. He Always Responds To Your Calls And Texts
A guy who has no interest in you might take a lot of time to respond to your messages or call. However, a guy who is pretending not to like you will always seem excited to respond to your messages and calls.
In fact, he will try to extend the calls and the text conversations just to keep talking to you.
15. He Gets Jealous
A guy who is jealous of you but has never declared his attraction towards you is clearly pretending not to like you.
You can tell he is jealous of you by his unwillingness to discuss other guys in your life with you. That's because this would reveal his feelings towards you.
He might also try to devalue any guy who shows an interest in you or try to talk about girls in his life when you bring up the guys in your life.
16. Your Friendship Is Important To Him
When he is pretending not to like you, you can easily tell that he gives the friendship his best. He might want to accompany you wherever you go and invite you to any events you attend.
He will also try to make sure you spend most of your time alone because he wants you all to himself.
17. He Gives You Lots Of Compliments
Guys use compliments on girls they like, even when they are not ready to declare their feelings for them. This can be incredibly confusing.
If you are curious about his endless compliments, chances are that he likes you but is pretending not to.
It will be more obvious that he is complimenting you because he likes you if the comments are accompanied by prolonged stares. When he is into you, his compliments will extend beyond your appearance to your personality and other things.
18. His Friends Think You Are His Girl
Even if he is pretending not to like you, you can know how he truly feels about you based on how his friends treat you.
If they seem to think you are his girl, then he has clearly talked about you to them.
When you bring it up with him, he might pretend that his friends are messing around with you or trying to embarrass him.
19. He Likes To Test You
When a guy likes you and hopes that you like him as well, he will look out for signs that the feeling is mutual. So, he might try saying that a certain girl has shown an interest in him just to find out how you will react.
If you seem bothered by the fact that other girls might be interested in him, he might be more confident to declare his feelings toward you.
20. He Tries To Impress You
A guy who seems to go over and beyond to impress you is clearly interested in you, even if he has not put that into words. He might recall very minor details about your life, talk about his job, or things he cares about.
21. He Acts Weird In Conversations About You
When others are speaking about you, how does he behave? Does he act like he is uninterested in the conversation while looking weirdly quiet?
If so, it's likely because he is pretending not to like you while also trying to learn as much as he can about you. He knows that showing interest in the conversation would give away his feelings towards you, which is the last thing he wants.
22. He Makes Jokes About You Two Being Together
If he can joke about you being together, it is clear that he has thought about you being together but is obviously still pretending not to like you.
Jokes give him an option to express his wishes with the benefit of not being taken too seriously or putting a lot of pressure on you. He could make jokes about going on a holiday together or moving in together.
23. Sometimes, He Shows You His Feelings By Mistake
Even though he is pretending not to like you, he can't do it all the time. Sometimes, he will make the odd mistake of showing you his true feelings for you.
His messages might show that he has more feelings towards you than he would like to admit, although he might seem a little standoffish when you meet in person.
24. He Touches You A Lot
If he finds excuses to touch you all the time, then it's possible he likes you but is pretending not to. He might give you lots of hugs, or touch you lightly when you are interacting.
He might be doing this because he can't contain himself given his strong feelings for you. He might also be doing it as a way to find out if you have feelings for him based on how you respond to the physical contact.
25. He Really Likes Getting Compliments From You
When a guy is pretending not to like you, he will seem eager to get confirmation that you like him. After all, he might be hiding his feelings for you because he doesn't know what you feel about him.
He could ask you about his friends, his fashion sense, or his career looking for approval. Guys figure out that if you like certain things about them, then you probably like them as well.
Why You Might Catch Him Pretending Not To Like You
There are many reasons a guy might be pretending not to like you. Generally, men are afraid of vulnerability since there is a stigma that comes with men being vulnerable.
Additionally, he might not know how you feel about him, and he might be pretending not to like you until he is sure you are on the same page.
You can make sure he stops pretending not to like you by expressing your feelings towards him. All you have to do is do something that confirms that his feelings are not misplaced. For instance, you can suggest that he takes you out on a date.
Beware that, sometimes, guys might be pretending not to like you because their feelings are not strong enough for them to make a move.
So, don't be surprised when the guy who was pretending not to like you does not respond too enthusiastically when you finally make it clear to him that his feelings for you will be reciprocated. In other words, be careful not to confuse signs that he wants your attention and doesn't want you with signs that he is secretly interested in you.
