tells
n. countablen. a small sign or habit that shows what someone is really thinking or feeling, even when they try to hide it. You often hear this word when people talk about poker players.
n. an unconscious action or behavior that reveals a person's true intentions or the strength of their hand in a game of strategy. Frequently used in the context of gambling or high-stakes negotiation.
His nervous tapping is one of his biggest tells.
The negotiator watched for subtle tells, like a sudden change in breathing, to see if the other side was bluffing.
Professional poker players spend years learning to suppress their physical tells while simultaneously scanning their opponents for any micro-expression that might betray a weak hand.
Usually used in the plural form when referring to a collection of habits.