12 Subtle Signs Someone Is Not Enjoying Your Company

A person who does these things probably isn’t enjoying your company.

A young man with short dark hair, wearing a checkered shirt, sits at a table holding a glass of beer. He has a puzzled or unimpressed expression. The background is blurred, suggesting a bar or pub setting.

Some people find it difficult to determine whether others enjoy spending time with them. Or they may be so eager to get on with folks that they don’t notice very obvious body language to the contrary. Be aware of the signs that follow, as they’re solid indicators that the person you’re interacting with might want some distance from you.

1. They sigh a lot.

Two women are sitting at an outdoor table, each holding a takeaway coffee cup. They are engaged in conversation, with one gesturing as she speaks. The background is softly blurred, suggesting a casual, relaxed setting.

Watch for people who take deep, long breaths when interacting with you, interspersed with drawn-out, long-suffering sighs. This behavior tells you that they’re tolerating your presence (barely), not enjoying it. If they’re both sighing and closing or rolling their eyes, it’s best if you walk away as soon as possible.

2. Frequent interruptions and hurrying you along (“skip to the point…”).

A man and a woman sit at a table in a cafe, holding coffee cups and engaged in conversation. They face each other, with the woman on the left wearing a light-colored top and the man on the right wearing a red shirt. The setting appears cozy and relaxed.

If you’re the type of person whose stories meander around in all directions rather than getting to the point, those you talk to might try to steer you back on course by interrupting you, or suggesting that you skip to the end and finish what you were saying.

3. Lack of eye contact.

Two women sitting on a couch, engaged in a serious conversation. The woman with long brown hair looks upset, resting her head on her hand, while the woman with long blonde hair appears to be consoling or advising her. The room is bright and minimally decorated.

A person who’s looking around at everything and everyone other than you isn’t someone who’s enjoying your company. We make eye contact when we’re engaged in a conversation and eager to make a connection with someone. In contrast, avoiding eye contact is a solid indicator of a lack of interest.

(Note, a lack of eye contact might also be a sign someone is autistic or has social anxiety, among other things).

4. “Oh, wow, look at the time.”

A man in a white shirt sitting at a table gestures while speaking to a woman in a yellow dress who is looking at her watch. They are outdoors at a cafe, surrounded by wicker chairs and warm lighting. The mood seems casual yet serious.

When someone is not enjoying your company, they’ll try to hasten its ending by any means possible. One excuse that they’ll use is that they have something very important to do, and depending on the situation, either they need to leave immediately to take care of it, or you do.

5. “Uh-huh. That’s cool.”

A woman sitting at an outdoor café, resting her head on her hand and looking thoughtfully at a man across from her. A cup of coffee is on the table in front of her. The background shows a blurred street scene with plants.

A person who’s enjoying your company will engage with you by using active listening, feedback, questions, and so on. In contrast, someone who has no interest in interacting with you any more than they have to will respond with things like “wow”, “crazy”, and “that’s cool” until you stop talking.

6. A flat, contemptuous gaze.

A woman with long blonde hair, wearing a light gray blazer, sits at a table with her hands clasped, appearing thoughtful. She faces a person with short dark hair in a blurred foreground. A cup is on the table in a bright, modern setting.

This type of response leaves absolutely no room for misinterpretation. Someone who doesn’t want to spend time with you or listen to you might simply gaze at you with an impassive, or even contemptuous stare without saying a single word to you, until you remove yourself from their presence.

7. Very short, clipped answers.

A woman with long blonde hair looks bored or annoyed, resting her head on her hand. She sits across from a man in a cafe. The background is slightly blurred, suggesting an indoor setting with natural light from large windows.

They don’t engage with you in an actual conversation, but instead offer clipped, usually one-word answers in a flat, annoyed tone. For example, if you ask them if they have plans for the weekend, they’ll just say “yes” or “no” and leave it at that, with no explanation.

8. They talk to everyone else around them except you.

If you’re in a group environment, you might as well not exist. You may be seated at the table with them and they’ll chat to every other person there, but never even look in your direction. Even if you call out to them, they’ll pretend they didn’t hear you and carry on.

9. They keep finding reasons to get away from you.

Two women are outdoors on a sunny day. The woman on the left is smiling and waving while wearing a denim shirt. The woman on the right, wearing a gray t-shirt and sunglasses on her head, is making a surprised face and touching her temple. Blurred street scene behind them.

Any time they find themselves in your company, there’s suddenly something important pulling them away. Either they need to use the restroom immediately, or someone important is gesturing to them from across the room, or they need a drink, and so on. Anything to get away from you.

10. They sacrifice people in your direction.

A group of three people stand in an office setting having a conversation. Two men and one woman are dressed in business casual attire. They are smiling, and in the background, other people are working at tables.

A person who is not enjoying your company might bait and switch someone else to take their place so they can flee the conversation. As such, they’ll call someone else over, tell them something that the two of you have in common, and then take off at speed in another direction.

11. Fidgeting.

Two young women are sitting on a couch, engaged in a conversation. The woman on the left, wearing a maroon shirt, looks bored or disinterested, resting her head on her hand. The woman on the right, wearing a grey shirt, is speaking animatedly, using hand gestures.

Cleaning glasses, drumming fingers, bouncing their leg, and readjusting their position are just a few types of fidget behavior that may be demonstrated by someone who would rather be anywhere but in your company. A person who’s enjoying themselves usually shows far more calm and relaxed body language.

12. Distanced and “closed” body language.

Three people are sitting on a couch having a discussion. The two facing the camera look attentive, while the person with their back to the camera gestures with their hand. They are in an indoor setting with plants in the background.

A blatant sign that someone isn’t enjoying your company is closed body language. They might cross their arms and lean far from you, or angle their body so they’re facing away. Additionally, they may avoid any physical contact with you, refusing handshakes or hugs, and cringing away from casual touch.