Signs He Likes You But Is Playing It Cool

Are you wondering if that special someone is into you but trying to play it cool? It can be frustrating to try to read between the lines and decipher mixed signals, but there are some telltale signs that a guy is interested in you, even if he’s not showing it overtly.

In this article, we’ll explore 39 signs that he likes you but is playing it cool, so you can get a better idea of where you stand. From maintaining eye contact and mirroring your body language to paying attention to the little things, we’ll delve into the subtle ways that a guy can let you know that he’s interested.

So if you’re wondering whether that special guy is into you, read on and discover the telltale signs that he likes you but is playing it cool.

Signs He Likes You But Is Playing It Cool

1. He cares about how he looks when he sees you

He improves and fixes his physical appearance when around you. You will notice things like him brushing through his hair with his fingers or him doing a quick check and fixing his outfit, making sure everything about his outward appearance is okay.

2. Follows you on social media

Thanks to technology, everyone is connected without being involved. If he is following you on all your social media accounts, it’s an obvious sign he likes you. If he goes the extra mile to like and comment on your post, it’s a sure sign of his feelings.

3. He gives you compliments

Compliments are a common way people show their interest in each other. Although he may not always express his feelings explicitly, compliments are a subtle way he can tell you how much he likes you.

Because he is keen and paying attention to you, he may compliment you if you change your hair or buy a new outfit. Sometimes even without any significant physical changes, he will still praise you about other stuff like hobbies or grades.

4. He makes and maintains eye contact

One of the most unmistakable signs that he likes you is that when you talk to each other or in a large group, he will focus on your face and eyes. The brave guys will always look for opportunities to make eye contact frequently.

If you happen to be sitting in a group with friends and he is telling a story or the one talking, you will notice his focus and eyes remain on you.

Note that very shy guys will probably look away as soon as you catch his eye.

5. Starts conversations

A guy who likes you will initiate regular or deep conversations with you unless he is shy. It is just another way to spend extra time with you. He will find ways to rope you into the conversation if you are in a group setting.

6. Eyes tell it all

His mannerisms and actions might indicate he is playing it cool, but his eyes portray a different message. Considered a psychological sign, his pupils become large and dilated involuntarily, which is a natural brain response to something someone likes.

7. He Teases You

Teasing can be a subtle way of flirting. However, there is a big difference between saying mean things and just being plain old rude and “teasing.”

Jokes should be gentle and innocent. There may even be a dynamic where the two of you engage in lighthearted banter.

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8. Shows off

When he notices you, he will try to act more relaxed than usual by trying to impress you. He will try to act more masculine and do stuff or say something to get your attention. All these actions are an attempt to stand out and be in your face to make sure you notice him.

9. Cares about your wellbeing

It’s an obvious sign if he notices a shift in your mood or when you are going through a tough patch and takes it upon himself to ask what is wrong. He will show you how much he cares about your personal life by being supportive.

10. His friends know

If a guy likes you, he can’t help talking and gushing about you to your mutual friends, so there is a high chance he might have mentioned or talked about his feelings about you to his friends. They might grin or act a bit funny when he’s around you. 

Watch this video which highlights these possible signs he likes you but is playing it cool:

11. Single and does not talk about any other crushes

From the grapevine, you know of his relationship status that he is not dating anyone and that he’s been talking about you, and neither does he mention being involved or interested in somebody else romantically.

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12. Physical contact

Physical touch can be a powerful way to show interest and attraction, and a guy who likes you will often find excuses to touch you (appropriately). This might mean brushing his hand against yours, giving you a hug, or resting his hand on your shoulder. These touches can be fleeting, but they can also be quite deliberate, often accompanied by eye contact and a smile.

Of course, it’s important to remember that not all touching is appropriate, and you should always be on the lookout for red flags, such as unwanted or aggressive touching. But if a guy is touching you in a respectful and consensual way, it’s a good sign that he likes you.

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13. Does not act possessive or jealous

If you notice other guys hanging around you, he will try to seem aloof and act as if he is not jealous when, in reality, he wants to let them know that he has his eyes on you and has feelings for you.

14. Steps are synced

You will notice that your steps are in sync, which should be more obvious when you walk together. If you are coming from different directions but towards each other, you will also notice the sync, and your right footstep matches his right footstep and the other leg.

Your steps syncing is categorized as a psychological sign since he naturally duplicates the rhythm of your walk.

15. Blushing

If you compliment him or say something nice, you will catch him blushing now and then. He might try to hide it, but if you’re keen, you will notice when he gets flushed in your presence.

16. Finds ways to spend time with you

When a guy is interested in you, he’ll make an effort to spend time with you. You might notice that he is hanging out and frequenting places you would spend most of your time.

He might cleverly invite you to join him (and possibly his group of friends) for a concert or movie without necessarily labeling the outing as a date. This can be a big deal because it shows that he values your company and wants to include you in his social circle.

And if he’s really into you, he might even rearrange his schedule to make time for you, even if it means canceling plans with other people.

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17. He focuses and pays attention when you are together

When you get the chance to be alone, he will give you his undivided attention and does not allow anything to distract him. If you notice that he’s not checking his phone when he’s around you, then that’s one of the signs he likes you.

18. He listens to you

Despite playing it cool, he listens actively to whatever you say when you’re together. If a guy is interested in a woman, he will listen to what she has to say and show a genuine interest in her thoughts and feelings.

If a man is shy or playing it cool, he may not always show his interest overtly, but listening is a subtle way that he can let you know that he cares.

19. Makes you smile

Besides the fact that he will look for ways to make you happy, you will also notice he is genuinely delighted when he sees you. It is a typical sign and clear indication that you both make each other feel good.

20. He goes out of his way to help you

When you need help with something, he is always ready to volunteer to offer a helping hand. He can also ask you for your help to get the opportunity to spend more time with you. He will offer solutions and answer your distress calls.

21. He describes his ideal girlfriend

Everybody has an idea of qualities and attributes they find desirable in an individual they want to get into a relationship with. From his checklist of an ideal partner, he explains to you his type, and when he is done, you realize he has described you perfectly.

22. Avoids eye contact

If he’s really shy, he might look at you when you can’t see him, but the minute you catch him looking at you, he looks away to avoid eye contact or acts like he wasn’t checking you out when you know he was.

23. He remembers small details

He remembers, pays attention, and notices even the smallest things about you. He remembers what you say and how you act. It shows he is interested in your day-to-day life, hobbies, and likes, such as your favorite color, your star sign, or how you like your cup of coffee.

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24. Laughs and smiles

He smiles at you a lot, probably more than he used to. In addition to the smile, you’ll notice that he will laugh at funny stuff you do or say, showing he appreciates your sense of humor and has one.

Your laugh becomes somewhat contagious when you laugh; he laughs.

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25. Defends you

He has the instinct to protect you. If he feels like you are being oppressed or mistreated, he quickly steps in to defend you. He is protective of you and does not mind if people know it. He might even become defensive if he notices even if a guy friend approaches you.

26. Mirroring

Body language is another powerful form of non-verbal communication. When a guy mirrors your body language, it’s a sign that he’s interested in you and is trying to connect with you on a deeper level. This can include things like mirroring your posture, facial expressions, and even your gestures.

27. Happy when around you

When he is around you, he seems more joyful and excited. Spending time with you makes him happy, so he will always look for ways to be around you more.

28. Makes jokes

Now and then, he will throw in jokes about his feelings for you. He might even refer to you sweetly and endearingly, like calling you “babe” or “hun,” but then retracts or acts like he didn’t say it.

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29. Eyebrow flash

When a guy likes you, he raises his eyebrows up and down, which usually happens in a blink of a second, but it is a subtle sign that a guy has feelings for you. It is a psychological sign referred to as an eyebrow flash.

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30. Values your opinion

Despite having people around him, that can give the correct input, he will come to you to hear your thoughts and opinions on certain things, which is a huge sign he likes you.

31. Asks questions

When you are together, he will be inquisitive and try to get to know you better by asking questions about your personal life, future goals, or opinions. Through the questions, he will try to figure out what you consider your ideal boyfriend, your likes, or hobbies.

32. Gets you gifts

As a sweet gesture, he will buy you gifts and presents on special or random days, and with time and the more you get to know each other, he starts to surprise you with gifts that are well thought out and mean something to you.

33. He respects you

A guy with true feelings for you will never disrespect you in any way. He will talk to and treat you respectfully, and neither would he allow someone else to mistreat you.

34. He favors and gives you special attention

If a guy genuinely likes you, he goes out of his way to do favors for you and give you special treatment. He will be attentive and patient and treat you well.

35. He shares stuff with you

A guy who likes you will be generous and share things with you. At times he might not even have enough to share, but he chooses to do it anyway because he has romantic feelings for you. It does not necessarily have to be extravagant or huge, even simple things like candy or his lunch.

36. He opens up to you

When a man is interested in a woman, he will often open up and share his thoughts and feelings with her. A man may not always show his interest overtly if he plays it cool, but opening up to you is a subtle way of showing you that he is willing to be vulnerable with you and trusts you.

37. Flirts

He might casually flirt with other people when he notices you nearby, which might be a confusing sign, but he is trying to see how you react. His flirtatious behavior is supposed to gauge if you feel the same way he does. So if it makes you jealous or angry, it confirms to him that you also have feelings for him.

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38. Acts awkward and goofy around you

When he is around other people, he is calm, relaxed, and collected, but he seems nervous and uneasy when around you. His body language will show that he is physically uncomfortable and on edge; this comes from not being sure of your feelings and perception of him.

Because he is attracted to you, he will be anxious and nervous and might fidget a lot, pace up and down or try to distract himself with his phone.

39. Texts you

One of the clearest signs that he likes you is if he takes the time to text you. He might just text a simple “WYD” or “Wassup” to start a conversation. If he is not texting you, he will find ways to talk to you in person.

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Is playing it cool attractive?

Playing it cool can be attractive to a certain point, but it can quickly become annoying and frustrating. Granted that someone might do it to guard their heart or for fear of rejection, playing it cool for ‘cool’ sake is not how you get the girl.

Some people may find it attractive because it can be seen as a sign of confidence and self-assurance. Others may find it unappealing because it can be interpreted as being aloof or detached.

If your intended target starts to lose interest, you should take it as a clear sign to state your intentions and romantic feelings.

How do you know when a guy is nervous?

There are several signs that a guy may be nervous. One of the most common signs is if his behavior changes when he’s around you versus his friends. He might start fidgeting or fiddling with objects, such as playing with his keys or twirling a pen.

He may also display nervous habits, such as biting his lip, cracking his knuckles, or playing with his hair. Other signs of nervousness can include avoiding eye contact, stuttering or stumbling over words, and sweating or blushing. Additionally, a guy may be quieter or withdrawn when he is nervous, or he may try to compensate by being overly talkative or loud.

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How do you play cool when you like a guy?

You can play cool when you like a guy by maintaining your composure and not letting your emotions get the best of you. This means avoiding behaviors like gushing, fawning, or begging for his attention.

For instance, if he sends a text, you can wait to respond or reply with a cryptic message or don’t agree to go on that date too fast. Tell him you’ll think about it, then tell him later that you will go; the idea lies in being casual before you take the leap of faith.

Watch the video below, which discusses if you should play it cool when you like someone: