Sometimes, we end up having friends who don’t exactly live up to that title.
It’s not that they hate you, but they don’t really love you like friends are supposed to. Some people on the internet call it dry hate.
It means that they’re sneaky and subtle. Your success and happiness make them bitter. And you can end up with one of these “friends” at any point in your life.
So, here are some telltale signs that they actually can’t stand you.
1. Their Smile Isn’t Genuine
You know that little instinct we all have? That gut feeling that makes you almost sure that someone’s being fake?
Your friend’s smile should be a dead giveaway.
Whenever you bring good news – a promotion or a relationship milestone – they try to smile, but it’s not quite right.
It’s like they manage to get their lips to curl up, but the happiness never reaches their eyes.
That subtle movement tells a whole story; they’re not happy for you, and they’re probably not your friend.
You’ll often catch yourself feeling weird after experiencing something like that, and that’s because your instincts catch it before your brain does.
It’s your subconscious picking up on their true feelings.
2. They Put You Down as “Just a Joke”
Joking at each other’s expense is one thing, but some people really try to mask their jealousy with passive-aggressive remarks.
And these fake friends typically try to get you to brush their words off as a joke only when you call them out.
They might try to make you feel guilty, so they tell you that you’ve changed. Or you bring good news, and their only response is, “Must be nice.”
This is them trying to dim your light without having the courage to say stuff to your face.
When it feels like someone’s undermining you, and they backtrack when you call it out, they’re not in your corner.
3. They Gaslight You to Undermine Your Confidence
Have you had one of those moments when you’ve done something you’re really proud of and the “friend” you told about it ended up shaming you?
That’s gaslighting in action.
They might tell you how no one was actually that impressed, or say something like, “Are you sure you want people to see this?”
They’re doing this on purpose in order to make you doubt your own confidence.
Vogliono che feel uncomfortable about your success and never try to stand out; these people do this because they can’t help their own insecurity.
Essentially, they want you to be just as insecure.
4. Your Body Is Trying to Warn You
Is your gut telling you that something’s off about this person?
I mean, they probably weren’t like that from the beginning, or you wouldn’t have befriended them. But there must have been an energy shift.
Do you feel drained or annoyed after hanging out with them?
That’s your body detecting their fakeness. Your instincts recognize the bad vibes, even if your mind refuses to admit it.
When someone’s jealous or resentful, you might be physically uncomfortable or exhausted after spending time with them.
So, if a friend makes you feel this way; it’s not just in your head.
5. They Don’t Let You Shine
Does this friend seem really bothered when you get attention?
It’s not like they want to harm you or anything, but they seem to feel the need to bring you down a peg whenever you’re enjoying attention or praise from others.
Maybe they make a remark about how lucky you are, or act unimpressed.
They just want to knock you off your pedestal so they can feel a little bit better about themselves.
They’re uncomfortable with your success because it highlights their insecurities. Their ego is too fragile, and they can’t help their reactions.
6. Your Achievements Never Impress Them
You get your diploma, buy a car, or switch to a better job, but they can’t find it in themselves to even pretend to be impressed.
Instead, they almost always find a reason to downplay your success.
Maybe they say, “You’re so lucky,” as if your achievements are just a fluke and not a result of hard work.
These fake friends can’t bring themselves to acknowledge that you deserved what you got.
And this behavior isn’t your ordinary jealousy; it’s them wanting you to feel as though you’re never good enough.
7. They Want to Mooch off of Your Light
Their behavior can be deeply confusing. On some level, you know that they envy or dislike you, but they still stay close and act like a best friend.
They’ll insist on hanging out, and maybe even try to control how much time you spend together.
Unconsciously, they feed off of your energy and success.
People who are happy and fulfilled don’t act this way, so it’s likely their own bitterness and lack of purpose that make them behave like that.
Questo è un toxic cycle, and if you try to end that friendship, they will resist.
They won’t be much different from a toxic ex; they’ll try to come back, send follow requests, and try to guilt-trip you into hanging out with them again.
They just want to stay close enough to bask in your glow, even if they resent you.
8. They Want to Make You Look Bad in Front of Your Other Friends
In group settings, their true colors come out so easily.
They’ll try to get validation from the others in your friend group by putting you down. This sort of behavior shouldn’t be confused with good-natured teasing!
They might exaggerate your mistakes, twist stories to make you look foolish, or even try to spill secrets you told them in confidence.
Though they’re usually subtle, in group settings, subtlety goes out the window. Their goal is to diminish your reputation and boost theirs.
Sono desperate for approval, so this is their method to feel accepted and superior.
A little Aquarius, devoted to writing and embroidery. Through my writing, I hope to empower readers to align with their true selves and navigate life’s mysteries with confidence.