PDF download Download Article PDF download Download Article

Some people have fainted for real before - but just how can you tell if someone has pretended to faint, or really fainted? Here is how.

  1. When you faint, your body doesn't have enough strength to bend its knees, so if the person fainting bends their knees, you can be pretty sure they are a faker.
  2. A regular fall wouldn't do this, since if they don't have enough strength to bend their knees, they wouldn't be able to move their hands.
    Advertisement
  3. If they think for a couple of seconds, they did indeed fake it. If they restate the question or don't use contractions when talking (ex: didn't, won't, aren't, etc.), they are probably faking as well.
  4. Advertisement

Expert Q&A

Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
Advertisement

Tips

  • The doctor will be the one with the real answer, so it's best to ask him or her.
  • If they immediately fess up when you say you're calling the emergency services, don't actually make the call. You don't want to land in jail.
Submit a Tip
All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
Name
Please provide your name and last initial
Thanks for submitting a tip for review!
Advertisement

Warnings

  • If you really can't tell the difference, just wait for the doctors to come. It's better to be safe than sorry when dealing with something this serious.
Advertisement

You Might Also Like

Deal With FaintingDeal With Fainting
Pretend to FaintPretend to Faint
Tell if Someone Is Unconscious or SleepingPassing Out vs. Sleeping: What to Do If Someone Is Unresponsive
Tell if Someone Is AsleepTell if Someone Is Asleep
Faint SafelyFaint Safely
Assess Level of Consciousness During First AidAssess Level of Consciousness During First Aid
Tell if Someone Is DeadTell if Someone Is Dead
Provide First Aid for a Broken BoneProvide First Aid for a Broken Bone
Prevent FaintingPrevent Fainting
Tell If a Person Has a ConcussionTell If a Person Has a Concussion
Cure Feeling Like You're About to Faint Stop Feeling Like You’re Going to Pass Out: Prevent Yourself from Fainting
Tell if Someone Is Pretending to Have an IllnessTell if Someone Is Pretending to Have an Illness
Help Someone Who Is Having a SeizureHelp Someone Who Is Having a Seizure
Deal with Fainting at SchoolDeal with Fainting at School
Advertisement

About This Article

wikiHow is a “wiki,” similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. To create this article, 10 people, some anonymous, worked to edit and improve it over time. This article has been viewed 58,604 times.
84 votes - 45%
Co-authors: 10
Updated: December 23, 2023
Views: 58,604
Categories: Feigning Illness
Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 58,604 times.

Did this article help you?

Advertisement