Trust your instincts

There's a great deal of debate about whether certain non-verbal signals are inborn, instinctive or learned, but it is agreed that when it comes to body language every one of us speaks with a slightly different accent. We can give you the basics, but when it comes to reading people for real be sure to look between the lines.

Check out his body language

Like your typical animal, a man on the make tends to preen himself - anything from checking his hair to his shirt cuffs. If sex is on his subconscious, so to speak, then his hands won't be far from his genitals - i.e. on his hips or in his pockets. The 'crotch display' is also a bit of a male giveaway, especially when he's seated, so if you find yourself faced with legs parted like the Red Sea you can be pretty sure he's mentally undressed you already.

Look at the body language on her

Women are subtler than men in their physical displays of affection. If she's interested then you may see similar preening gestures, but also check out the way she's looking at you. Holding your gaze, looking away and then glancing back is a kind of peek-a-boo you can't afford to ignore. Unless she doesn't look back, of course. Also watch for the way she handles her wrists. It's a part of the female body that's considered to be erotically charged. It's a pulse point after all, not to mention a prime target for perfume. Crossing and uncrossing her legs may also be a promising sign too, but it could just mean she's busting to get up and away - so don't take the signs too literally!

The five signs of flirting

Watch out for these major body language clues on both guys and girls.

Eyes down for the prize - When talking to people we don't know well, we look at each of their eyes, making a zig-zag motion across the bridge of their nose. With friends we look at their eyes and then make a triangle down to include their mouth, but when we're really flirting the triangle gets big enough to include the whole body.

Mirror mirror - Mimicking the body language of your potential partner is another sure way to show you're interested.  Be subtle, and don't make it look like you're laughing at them, but taking a sip of your drink about 30 seconds after they do shows you're on the same wavelength.

The eyebrow flash - When we first meet someone hot we raise our eyebrows up and down very quickly. If they like us back they copy the movement. The only problem is that all of this is over in about a fifth of a second, so good luck spotting it.

Bat your lashes - It turns out that fluttering your lashes actually works and isn't just a desperate manoeuvre practised by cheesy coquettes. When we like someone our pupils get bigger and let in more light, which means we blink more. Use this to your advantage by blinking more yourself. If you're in, then your partner will also start blinking more. You'll both feel more attracted to each other as a result.

Get to the point - Look at where their hands and feet are pointing. Hope that they're pointing towards you. Very simple.

Updated: 02/09/2010