Round 1 of 4
Describe It
Talk your team to the answer
▶ Play free in your browserHow this round works
Round 1 is the talking round and the first time these words come up. In 30 seconds you describe as many words as you can — say anything you like except the word itself. Everything your team guesses here they’ll hear again in Rounds 2 and 3, so the descriptions you choose now become the memory hooks you’ll lean on later.
Rules
- Say anything except the word itself or another form of the same root
- No gestures, miming, or pointing — this is the talking round
- No spelling it out or “sounds like” / “rhymes with” clues
- You can skip a word, but it goes back in the pot for someone else
Tips & tricks
Lead with the category
Start broad — “it’s an animal…”, “it’s a movie…” — so your team narrows down fast instead of guessing blind.
Plant a hook for later rounds
The same words return in Rounds 2 and 3. Pick a vivid, memorable description now and your one-word clue and mime become obvious later.
Describe by function, not just synonyms
For “umbrella”, “you open it when it rains” lands faster than reaching for a fancy synonym.
For names, describe what they’re famous for
You can’t say the name, so go straight to the claim to fame — the role, the song, the invention.
Skip ruthlessly
Don’t burn 20 seconds on one stubborn word. Bank the easy points and come back if there’s time.
Challenge word categories
Abstract concepts
Nothing to point at and no obvious description — you have to come at these sideways.
Famous names & brands
You can’t say the name, so everything rides on the claim to fame.
Everyday but slippery
So ordinary they’re weirdly hard to define on the spot.