How to Tell if a Country Boy Likes You

Co-authored by Jan & Jillian Yuhas and Christopher M. Osborne, PhD

Last Updated: June 27, 2022 References

You have a feeling that cute country boy likes you, but how can you be sure? Lucky for you, he’ll definitely give off lots of “I like you” signals—but you need to know what to watch out for. We’ve included those key signals below, and also added helpful advice for attracting and dating a country boy. Keep reading so you’re ready for your next meetup with that guy who puts the “city boys” to shame!

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Signs a Country Boy Likes You

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He smiles and makes lots of eye contact. Both of these are classic indicators that a guy likes you—and country boys are no exception here! If he can’t help but look your way and smile when you come into view, then it’s safe to assume that he’s genuinely interested and not just trying to be polite.^{[1]
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- Try looking back at him while he’s looking at you. If he locks eyes with you for a few seconds, that’s a great sign. Even if he looks away, though, that doesn’t mean he’s not interested. He may just be a bit shy.
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He uses “open” body language and moves closer to you. Eye contact and smiling aren’t the only nonverbal clues to look out for. If you notice him doing any of the following, definitely take it as a positive sign:^{[2]
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- He turns his body so he’s facing straight toward you.
- He keeps his hands visible and mostly out to his sides.
- He begins to mirror your positioning and movements, such as hand gestures.
- He moves closer to you—probably slowly and subtly.
- He touches your shoulder or forearm in a natural way, such as when you’re both laughing at a funny story.^{[3]
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He finds reasons to be around you or contact you. Have you noticed that he takes a longer route so that he “just happens” to walk down the hall when you’re there? Or that he texts you homework questions when it’s pretty clear he already knows the stuff? Or that he always seems to wait to join a group get-together until he knows whether or not you’re going? If so, that country boy likes you!^{[4]
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- Some country guys can be really hesitant to go out of their comfort zone.^{[5]
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  Research source} So, if he’s trying new things—say, for instance, joining a yoga class—that just happen to let him hang out with you, that’s definitely a strong signal.
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He does little favors for you to make your day better. Country guys are often assumed to be the “strong, silent type,” and while this isn’t always true, it is a common characteristic.^{[6]
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Research source} So he may be even more likely than the average guy to let his actions, not his words, reveal that he likes you.^{[7]
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- You might, for example, catch him cleaning the snow off your car when it’s time to head home on a wintry day.
- Or he might offer to use his pickup to help you transport stuff to the local donation center.
- Or maybe he’ll just give you a nice smile and a “You’ve got this” before a big exam or presentation.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Attracting a Country Boy

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Ask questions that encourage him to share. As a guy—and especially as a country guy—he may feel like he’s not supposed to talk about himself.^{[8]
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Research source} But you have to get him talking in order to build a real connection! How? Try using a strategy that works in nearly every small-talk situation: asking questions that can’t be answered with just a “yes” or “no.” For example:^{[9]
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- “What did you think of the team’s strategy in overtime?”
- “How was your fishing trip?”
- “What was the storm like at your place last night?”
- “How did you get ready for this test?”
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Find some common interests that relate to country living. You might not be a country person yourself. You might even be a city person! In any case, you have to find some common interests if you’re going to make a real connection. ^{[10]
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Expert Source

Jan & Jillian Yuhas
Relationship Coaches & Boundary Specialists
Expert Interview. 19 August 2021.}As you ask questions and listen to him talk, take mental note of shared interests or experiences, then circle back to these regularly in order to build a greater comfort level.^{[11]
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- Whether or not you’ve had similar life experiences, for example, you might share an appreciation for country music or for stargazing far from the glare of streetlights.
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Showcase your ability to solve problems and get stuff done. People who live out in the country tend to take a lot of pride in doing things on their own, and to appreciate that quality in others. So, whether you were raised in the country, the city, or somewhere in between, it’ll help your cause if you’re a self-sufficient type of person.^{[12]
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- Thanks to a little help from wikiHow, you might be able to tell him you know how to fix a leaky sink, troubleshoot a wonky computer, or repair cracked wall plaster, to name just a few things!
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Be your authentic self instead of putting on a show.^{[13]
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Jan & Jillian Yuhas
Relationship Coaches & Boundary Specialists
Expert Interview. 19 August 2021.} Some country guys are really comfortable in their own skin and wary of people “putting on airs,” while others are nothing like that. That said, in general, a country guy is likely to appreciate authenticity in others.^{[14]
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- In other words, focus on being yourself instead of trying to be the type of person you think a country boy would like. After all, maybe he’s looking for something (and someone) a little different!^{[15]
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  Jan & Jillian Yuhas
  Relationship Coaches & Boundary Specialists
  Expert Interview. 19 August 2021.}
- Guys are more attracted to people who know their worth and where they want to go in life.^{[16]
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  Jan & Jillian Yuhas
  Relationship Coaches & Boundary Specialists
  Expert Interview. 19 August 2021.}

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

What It’s Like to Date a Country Boy

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He might be a bit quiet and reserved at first. While this certainly isn’t always the case, a country boy may be more likely to be this way compared to other guys you’ve dated. If so, take things slow instead of trying to force him out of his shell right away. That way you can build up your conversations over time and really get to know each other.^{[17]
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- Ask thoughtful questions that relate to things he’s interested in, and offer follow-up questions and observations if and when he becomes more talkative. The quality of your questions is more important than the quantity of questions you ask.
- If you’re the talkative and boisterous type, you may want to tone things down slightly—but without trying to change who you are. Let him get accustomed to your personality, just like you’re getting accustomed to his.
2
He’ll like spending time outdoors and getting dirty. No, every single country boy isn’t like this—but the odds are really good that your guy is. When you live in the country, it’s just natural that you’ll spend a lot of time outdoors, often doing rugged activities. So it’ll really be helpful if you’re into that kind of living too!^{[18]
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- Maybe he enjoys fishing and riding a dirt bike, while you prefer rock climbing and cross-country skiing. If so, introduce each other to your outdoor interests and show an eagerness to try new ones together.
3
He may enjoy “city” activities—but likely in small doses. Even if your guy is proud of his country boy status and prefers the way of life he knows, there’s probably a part of him that’s eager to try new things. He may feel like a fish out of water if it’s all too much, too soon, so stick to a pace of “cultural exchange” that you both feel comfortable with.^{[19]
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- For example, maybe he hasn’t spent much time visiting the kind of large-scale museums you find in cities, beyond the occasional school field trip as a kid. So, instead of trying to get him to share your love of museums by going to a new one every weekend, consider spacing things out over a few months.
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He’ll be a unique individual just like any guy is. If you’ve dated “city” guys or “small town” guys before, you know that they’re each unique in their own way. Well, the same is true of “country” guys—each and every one of them has unique qualities, and dating one of them is always going to be a unique experience. So go ahead and enjoy the process of discovering what makes your country boy special!

Expert Q&A

Question

How do you get him to ask for your number?

Jan & Jillian Yuhas
Relationship Coaches & Boundary Specialists
Jan Yuhas and Jillian Yuhas are Relationship Coaches & Boundary Specialists and the Founders of Entwined Lifestyle. They specialize in helping individuals and couples work on effective communication, healthy boundaries, and lifestyle wellness. They have also been featured on media outlets such as Yahoo Lifestyle and Bustle. Jan and Jillian both hold a BA in Psychology from The University of Illinois at Chicago and an MA in Marriage and Family Therapy from The Adler School of Professional Psychology.

Jan & Jillian Yuhas

Relationship Coaches & Boundary Specialists

Expert Answer

Start a conversation to show that you're available. Find common topics that you can to each other on, and ask plenty of open-ended questions to get to know one another. When you can, compliment him on his interests or accomplishments.