If a speaker takes longer than usual to begin answering a question,the slower onset is a deception cue.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

This is because a person may take longer to respond to a question because they are taking time to craft a deceptive response or come up with a believable lie. However, it is important to note that this cue alone cannot definitively indicate deception and should be considered in conjunction with other cues.

If a Speaker Takes Longer Than Usual to Begin Answering