You’ve probably heard it said that you should never trust a man who kisses with his eyes open.
It’s kind of like an old wives tale, but what does it actually mean when a guy keeps his eyes open while kissing?
Here is what it means from a body language and psychological perspective, and whether or not you can trust a man who kisses with his eyes closed!
Why It’s Said You Should “Never Trust a Man Who Kisses with His Eyes Open”
I’m not sure where the saying, theory, or old wives tale comes from, but it’s not hard to find people saying that they’ve heard you shouldn’t trust a guy who kisses with his eyes open.
But tales aside, is there any science or factual basis for this?
Well, no, there isn’t.
I’m sure there are anecdotal stories that convince people this is true, but obviously, if you catch your boyfriend necking you with his eyes open, don’t panic or jump to conclusions!
Here are the most common reasons why a guy might kiss with his eyes open:
1. He Can’t Be Trusted
As I touched on, this is the most commonly believed reason behind what people think about a guy who kisses with his eyes open.
The logic goes that if he’s constantly looking around while kissing, he’s not really focusing on the kiss or the person he’s with.
He might be thinking about something else entirely, or he might even be trying to figure out an escape route!
It’s not exactly that Hollywood moment and the perfect kiss, is it? It’s also natural to assume he’s not fully invested if he’s looking around.
However, this logic is flawed for a few reasons as I’ll be explaining in more detail in this article.
Related – Here are tips to tell if your partner is being honest and if he really likes you!
2. He Feels More of A ‘Spark’ with Visual Stimulation
When you kiss someone, it’s not just the physical sensation and the feelings that come with it that can be pleasurable.
For some people, they feel more of a ‘spark’ or connection if they’re able to see their partner while kissing them.
It could be that he finds your face and eyes incredibly attractive (lucky you!) and wants to drink in the sight of you while he’s kissing you.
It could also be that he feels more connected to you on an emotional level when he can see your face and eyes.
3. He Wants to See How You’re Reacting
This is more common in new relationships or first kisses, but a guy might want to keep his eyes open while kissing you so he can see your reaction.
He might be worried about how you’re feeling or whether you’re enjoying the kiss as much as he is.
Or, he might be seeing if it’s you that he can’t trust!
Although, if he also has his eyes open, what does that say about him, right?
Of course, this could also be a sign that he’s not very confident. It’s certainly something to bring up and see what he says!
4. He’s so Nervous He Can’t Relax
Kissing with your eyes open is definitely not the norm, so if he’s doing it, it could be a sign that he’s feeling incredibly nervous.
I’m sure you’ve been there, we all have.
It’s a nerve-racking experience at times kissing someone we like, and sometimes we do weird things!
This is definitely a possibility if he’s only done it once or twice or when you first started hooking up and you can see that he’s visibly nervous.
5. He’s Not Enjoying It
This is the one reason no one wants to hear, but it’s a reason you have to explore and isn’t that uncommon.
A guy might keep his eyes open while kissing you because he’s not enjoying it.
It could be that he’s just not feeling a connection, or there could be something else going on.
This is what ties in to not being able to trust a guy with his eyes open, meaning that there is something going on there.
It’s not an easy conversation to have, but it’s something to bring up with him if you suspect it may be an underlying cause.
Is It Weird to Kiss with Eyes Open?
The answer to this is a no!
Kissing with your eyes open might not be the norm, but that doesn’t mean it’s weird.
It could just be how he prefers to kiss, and there’s nothing wrong with that.
You might even find that you enjoy it too if you try!
Of course, if he’s constantly doing it and you’re not enjoying it, then that’s a different story.
But if you have your eyes closed, it shouldn’t be that distracting for you – because you won’t be aware that your partner has their eyes open!
Related – Signs your man likes your friend or likes you but is intimidated to do anything about it!
Should You Ask a Man Why He Kissed You with His Eyes Open?
The answer to this one is a little more complicated.
If you’re in a long-term relationship and he’s never done it before, then it might be worth asking him why he did it or just letting it slide.
If you do ask, I’m sure you’ll find that there’s a perfectly innocent explanation and nothing to worry about!
However, if you’re not in a long-term relationship and you don’t know the guy so well, then I’d be more inclined to ask him about it sooner rather than later.
It’s a tough situation to be in because it’s obviously distracting you from the moment if you’re noticing his eyes are open and you’re thinking about why.
Talking about things is always the best solution, as long as the guy is able to b open and honest about his feelings.
You have nothing to lose by asking, so I suggest you do so and see where the conversation goes.
But what I will end on is by saying that it doesn’t always mean a guy is up to something, doesn’t like you, or can’t be trusted!
Don’t jump to conclusions and go with hearsay, ask him for yourself and see what he says.
Image credits – Photo by Flávia Gava on Unsplash
Phil lives in England, UK, and has around 20 years experience as a professional life, career and executive coach. He started this blog to help others find and define their own self development journey. Blogging about a wide range of topics to help facilitate a better future.