Are you reading these signs of attraction correctly? When you’re interested in someone romantically, you’ve probably been watching them closely for signs that they are attracted to you.

Flirting can be fun. But usually, you are hoping that the object of your attraction will notice your efforts and they will return your interest. If you’ve been putting your best foot forward and making obvious moves. But if your potential romantic partner is less obvious, you may wonder if they are interested in you.

Reading the signs of attraction can be complicated. In a study of nonverbal attraction cues in opposite-sex couples, researchers found that signals can have multiple meanings, which is on purpose. For example, when it comes to signs of attraction from a woman, laughter can send a playful message, or its meaning can be modified by another body language. Researchers say that laughter from a woman, together with its accompanying body postures and movements, can mean anything from sexual solicitation to aversion, depending on which and how many different signals are used.

In the same study, men seem to communicate interest in women during laughter with only a few body language signals, such as body orientation and dominant postures. There are not so many subconscious signs of male attraction — men tend to be more straightforward in their flirtation. Unless they are shy, if they are attracted to you, they will make sure that you know.

Here are 6 signs that will tell you whether that man or woman you’ve had your eye on is also attracted to you.

SIGNS OF ATTRACTION: 12 TELLING SIGNS SOMEONE IS ATTRACTED TO YOU

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SIX SIGNS THAT A WOMAN IS ATTRACTED TO YOU

As mentioned, when it comes to women, generally speaking, the signs of attraction may be a little more subtle. Rather than direct, obvious body movements, they may show telltale signs in smaller ways. Here are a few of the most common signs of attraction from a woman.

1. SUSTAINED EYE CONTACT

Have you exchanged some long, smoldering glances? That is a good sign that she’s attracted to you. Maybe you turned your head toward her and caught her watching you, only to see her quickly turn away in embarrassment? Another very positive sign of attraction.

Maybe you had a conversation over the file cabinet, and neither looked at the file drawers? That is another good sign. Direct, sustained eye contact of more than ten seconds is a sign that she is attracted to you. Her eyes may briefly break away from your gaze to check out your body as you talk, which is also a good sign.

2. TOUCHING

When a woman is interested in you, she will find a way to touch you often. It could be a sign of attraction if she briefly touches your shoulders or your knee as you sit near each other. If you find that her touch lingers longer than might be normal or that she finds excuses to touch you when most people wouldn’t, she may send you some nonverbal cues that she is attracted to you.

3. LAUGHING

Giggling, especially with eye contact and touching, are good signs that a woman is attracted to you. Laughter is a great way to break the ice and get you in a happy, positive, and receptive mood. It means she notices your interest in her. If a woman doesn’t find something funny, she’s not likely to laugh, so if you say something that you don’t think was necessarily very funny and get a big response, that may hint that she is interested or flirting with you.

4. HIGHER VOCAL TONE

Women tend to use a higher vocal pitch when interested in a potential romantic partner. Their voices get higher in acoustical tone, not in volume when they find an attractive mate. By changing the pitch of her voice, a woman is signaling her feminine traits to the object of her affection. This could be a telltale sign for some people, particularly if you notice that her voice is higher than her normal pitch.

5. TOUCHING HER FACE

She might push her hair back behind her ear, showing you some skin on her neck. This is a gesture of trust and also one that may indicate interest in you. She might cover her mouth when she laughs or put her hand up to her mouth when she is quiet. These hand gestures may just be out of nerves, but they could also be good signs that she is attracted to you.

6. TURNING TOWARD YOU WITH HER LEGS

Facing you is a good sign, but that could be a courteous way of giving you attention when talking. If her legs and feet are all turned toward you, especially in combination with some of the above signals, it is a good sign that she is attracted to you. This signal is one to look for in a group setting. If there are several people, but she is facing toward you or only talking to you, this can signify attraction.

SIX SIGNS THAT A MAN IS ATTRACTED TO YOU:

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Again, the signs of male attraction tend to be more apparent, as most societies encourage men to speak their minds and make the first move. But if you are dealing with a shy guy or maybe just one who wants to be respectful, here are some more subconscious signs of male attraction.

1. GROOMING

Does he straighten his tie, smooth his hair, or buttons his coat when you appear? Then it’s a good sign that he is attracted to you. Before you came into view, he checked for food in his teeth, popped a breath mint, and applied a splash of cologne. Especially if a guy does not typically put extra care into his appearance, this can be a telling sign of attraction.

2. ATTRACTING ATTENTION

The term ‘peacocking’ describes how men display their attraction to someone. This is a showy behavior that is designed to attract your attention. They are saying “look at me” with their behavior.

The behavior could be anything from wearing showy clothing, like a brightly colored tie, to challenging other men to physical contests, like arm wrestling. Just like a male bird tries to make a show for the female, you can tell he is attracted to you if he makes these showy gestures with you around.

3. STANDING STRAIGHTER

He slouched until you showed up. Then he sat up straight or stood a little taller when you came around. He probably pushed his chest out and sucked in his gut too. These body posture adjustments to look more attractive are a good sign.

4. FIDGETING

He can’t sit still when you’re around. If he touches his watch repeatedly or buttons and unbuttons his jacket or brushes his hair away from his face repeatedly, it’s a good sign that he’s attracted to you.

5. FLEXING

You notice his arms bend, he balls his hands into fists, and he appears to be tightening his chest and arm muscles for you. He’s putting on a display of his best masculine traits to attract your approval.

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6. OPEN FACIAL EXPRESSIONS

Raised eyebrows, open lips, wide eyes, and smiling are all open facial expressions. Combine these with sustained eye contact and his eyes checking out your body. That is a sure sign that he is attracted to you.