For example, if you ask your spouse how their day was, and they just say “Fine, thanks,” they might be angry at you. If you’re communicating over text or social media, they might give you single-letter or single-word responses (like “k” or “cool”).
If you clock into work a few minutes late, and your boss mutters, “You are incapable of being on time,” they’re probably not happy with you. Or, your friend might go so far as to threaten to end the friendship because they found out you talked with their ex.
Glaring (or, on the flip side, pointedly looking away) Furrowing their brows Clenching their jaw or gritting their teeth Tightly pursing their lips Scowling Tensing their shoulders[4] X Expert Source Elvina Lui, MFTMarriage & Family Therapist Expert Interview. 15 March 2019. Crossing their arms over their chest[5] X Expert Source Elvina Lui, MFTMarriage & Family Therapist Expert Interview. 15 March 2019. Closing or clenching their fists Turning their body away from you, or angling themselves towards the door
If you greet someone who’s frustrated with you, for instance, they might sigh and give you a sharp, “What?” rather than greeting you back. Some people will snap or yell at you when they’re mad at you, but not everybody will.
If you follow each other on social media, they may stop liking or commenting on your posts, or even block you. The silent treatment can be frustrating, and it doesn’t resolve the problem. It’s okay to gently call it out with something like, “I understand you’re upset with me, and I’d really like to figure out how to resolve this. Let’s talk about it. ”[8] X Research source
This tends to be more obvious with people you’re close with, because they’ll be acting “off. ”
Sometimes, the person might even do this when they know you can hear. They may make comments such as, “Not naming names, but some people need to learn to take responsibility. ” Some people will spread rumors or gossip when they’re angry. But they might also do it because they want to start drama or appear better than you, so if there’s gossip circulating about you, it doesn’t always mean you’ve ticked someone off. [11] X Research source
Let’s say your coworker confronts you over the printer being out of paper. When you ask why they didn’t reload the printer themselves, they claim they couldn’t because you never showed them where the paper is. They could have asked someone else, so this may be an excuse to get annoyed with you personally.
For instance, your roommate made it clear they disliked a new house rule. Later, they go out shopping, but “forget” to bring back something you asked for. That could be their way of communicating that they’re still mad. Or, let’s say you fought with a friend. If they make a post on social media later that’s clearly a jab at you, it’s still bugging them.
For example, suppose your friend suddenly starts harshly criticizing your taste in crushes, your stutter, and the way you’ve organized your essay. If they’re only doing this to you and nobody else, they’re probably mad at you. Be aware, though, that nitpicking alone doesn’t mean someone is mad at you. It can also be caused by things like anxiety, stress, or perfectionism.
As an example, maybe you’ve previously cheated on your partner, but you ended the affair and agreed to work it out. But if your partner keeps accusing you of cheating every time you’re more than five minutes late, they may still be angry at you.
If you accidentally broke your friend’s phone, for instance, an angry friend might try to damage your phone as payback. Some people will retaliate with threats, verbal abuse, or physical violence. This is never okay. If you feel that you’re in danger, tell someone who can help.
If they’re not too angry, this can give you an opening to apologize and find a solution to what happened. You might also be able to just ask, if you have a good relationship with the person. Try something like, “I’ve noticed you haven’t really been talking to me since yesterday. Did I upset you with what I said?”
