You know that awkward moment when it’s your turn to act out something in charades, and you pull “tax accountant” from the hat? Nobody wants that. Your arms flail around like a balloon man at a car dealership while your friends stare at you with pity in their eyes. Game night ruined.
But what if I told you charades could actually be fun? Yes, with the right words to act out, you can turn from that sweaty, panicky mess into the star of game night. The secret? Pick words that make people laugh before anyone even starts guessing.
Funny Things to Write Down for Charades
Look, charades should be silly and make people giggle. These ideas will help you stock your charades jar with comedy gold that’ll have your friends snorting their drinks out their noses.
1. Someone trying to put on skinny jeans
This is an instant classic. The hopping, the wiggling, the lying flat on the bed – we’ve all been there! Acting this out lets you go all-in with physical comedy while your friends immediately connect with your suffering.
The best part? Everyone makes the same grunting face when squeezing into too-tight pants. Try this at family gatherings for maximum laughs, especially if Grandma joins in.
2. A person who desperately needs to pee
We’ve all done the pee-pee dance at some point in our lives. Crossed legs, bouncing up and down, the pained expression – it’s universal sign language for “bathroom emergency.”
Your friends will crack up watching you hop from foot to foot with your knees squeezed together. This one works best in mixed company after a few drinks, when bathroom humor hits just right.
3. Someone finding a spider in their hair
Start casual, then build to panic! The initial confusion when something tickles your scalp, followed by the realization, the frantic head-slapping, and the silent screaming. Pure charades gold.
This works especially well if you have long hair to flip around wildly. For bonus points, finish by stomping dramatically on the imaginary spider that “fell” to the floor.
4. Person on a roller coaster
Begin seated, looking excited but nervous. Then launch into the experience – the slow climb up, hands gripping the safety bar, and suddenly – whoosh! Go all out with the facial expressions as you zoom up, down, and around.
The physical comedy comes from staying in your seat while your body gets thrown around by invisible forces. Even better if you can rope in another player to sit behind you, screaming along.
5. Someone stepping on a Lego
Start walking normally, then BAM! The sudden shock, pain, and dramatic hopping on one foot while holding the other. We’ve all been there, and the shared trauma makes this instantly recognizable.
The beauty is in the contrast: one second fine, the next second in agony. Parents will guess this one immediately, often with sympathy groans.
6. Person trying to catch a fly
Nothing says comedy like swatting at empty air with increasing frustration. Start with casual annoyance at the buzzing, then escalate to all-out warfare against the invisible enemy.
Make sure to track the “fly” with your eyes as it zips around the room. End either in victory (smashing it with a clap) or defeat (collapsing in exhaustion as it escapes).
7. Someone eating super spicy food
Begin with confidence, taking that first big bite with a smile. Then the heat hits! Eyes watering, fanning your mouth, desperately looking for water – the progression makes this a winner.
Get creative with showing how you try to cool your mouth down. Stick out your tongue, pant like a dog, or mime chugging milk. Your team will be laughing too hard to guess correctly.
8. Person trying to take a selfie
Strike that perfect pose, arm extended, then shift angles repeatedly seeking the perfect lighting. Don’t forget the duck lips, head tilt, and the critical “check and delete” cycle that follows each attempt.
This works because we all know someone (maybe ourselves) who takes fifteen shots to get one Instagram-worthy pic. Bonus points if you include fixing your hair between shots.
9. Someone opening a tight jar
Start confident, give it a casual twist, then show increasing struggle as the stubborn lid refuses to budge. Your face gets redder, muscles strain, and you try every possible method – running it under hot water, banging it on the counter, using your shirt for grip.
The payoff comes when you finally succeed (or give up and pass it to someone else). This one is funny because it taps into our shared experience of fighting with pickle jars.
10. Person with hiccups
Begin normal, then suddenly jolt with the first hiccup! The timing is everything here – random, unexpected spasms that interrupt whatever else you’re trying to do. Show your growing frustration with each new hiccup.
Mix it up by showing different hiccup cures – drinking water upside down, holding your breath, or having someone scare you. The physical comedy writes itself.
11. Someone trying to parallel park
Start by showing yourself driving, then spot the tight parking space. The doubt in your eyes, followed by determination! Show the back-and-forth, the neck-craning to see behind you, the wheel turning, and the growing frustration.
For maximum laughs, end with either perfect success (smug smile and all) or giving up entirely and driving away. This works because driving struggles are so relatable.
12. Person with a wedgie
Few things are as universally awkward as trying to fix underwear that’s riding up in public. Start walking normally, then show the growing discomfort, the subtle adjustment attempts, and finally the desperate tug when you think no one’s looking.
The comedy comes from the contrast between trying to act normal while dealing with major discomfort. Friends will laugh because they’ve all been exactly where you are.
13. Someone watching a scary movie
Begin relaxed on your “couch,” munching popcorn, eyes glued to the screen. Then build tension – leaning forward, clutching a pillow, peeking through fingers, and finally the big jump scare reaction!
The entertainment value comes from your growing fear and the final payoff. This works great in groups because your audience can ham it up by gasping along with you.
14. Person pretending to know the lyrics
Start confidently singing along to an imaginary song, clearly knowing the chorus. Then the verses hit and you’re suddenly mumbling, making up words, or just mouthing “watermelon” repeatedly while nodding like you totally know this part.
This gets laughs because we’ve all faked our way through songs at parties. Don’t forget to nail the chorus again when it comes back around!
15. Someone getting a brain freeze
Take a big slurp of your imaginary ice cream or slushie, then BAM! The sudden shock hits your brain. Freeze mid-slurp, eyes wide, hand clutching your forehead in pain.
The physical comedy comes from the contrast between enjoyment and sudden suffering. Press your tongue to the roof of your mouth for authenticity points – charades experts will appreciate the detail.
16. Person trying to swat a mosquito
Start by noticing something landing on your arm. The slap attempt, followed by checking if you got it. Then the buzzing by your ear – the frantic waving, turning in circles trying to locate the tiny enemy that’s always just out of reach.
This works because the mounting frustration is so relatable. End either victoriously holding up your palm to examine your squashed foe, or in defeated exhaustion as it escapes.
17. Someone trapped in a boring conversation
Begin nodding politely at your imaginary conversation partner. Then show your eyes glazing over, the forced smile, checking your watch, looking for escape routes, and the fake laugh that says “I’m not listening but I’m pretending to.”
Friends will laugh because we’ve all been cornered by chatty strangers. Bonus points if you include trying to signal friends for rescue across the room.
18. Person trying to catch a sneeze
Start with that telltale nose tickle – the pre-sneeze face that says it’s coming. Your eyes scrunch, nose twitches, breath catches. Then either the massive explosive sneeze or the disappointing fizzle when it doesn’t happen.
The suspense makes this a winner. Will it come or won’t it? The physical comedy of desperately trying to control an uncontrollable bodily function gets laughs every time.
19. Someone checking if their breath stinks
Cup your hand, breathe into it, then take a cautious sniff. Your reaction tells the story – shock, horror, embarrassment! Follow with frantic gum-searching in pockets or mime spraying breath freshener.
This works because it’s something we all do but never talk about. The private moment made public creates instant comedy.
20. Person walking into a glass door
Walk confidently forward, then SMACK! The sudden impact, the confusion, checking your nose for damage, and the embarrassed look around to see who noticed. Classic physical comedy that’s easy to act out.
For bonus points, add the hand prints on the glass as you try to figure out what just happened. This gets big laughs because it taps into our shared experience of public embarrassment.
21. Someone trying to act casual after tripping
Take a few normal steps, then suddenly stumble! The key is what comes next – pretending it was intentional, looking around to see if anyone noticed, then walking away with exaggerated swagger to cover your embarrassment.
The humor comes from the universal experience of trying to save face after a clumsy moment. We’ve all been there, making this instantly recognizable to your team.
22. Person with something stuck in their teeth
Start eating normally, then feel that annoying food particle lodged between your teeth. Show the tongue maneuvers, the subtle finger attempts, and finally the unashamed full-finger dig when other methods fail.
This one gets laughs because it balances relatability with the social taboo of picking your teeth in public. The increasing desperation to remove that stubborn popcorn kernel is comedy gold.
23. Someone trying to listen through a wall
Press your ear against the imaginary wall, eyes wide with curiosity. Cup your hand behind your ear, shift positions to find the best listening spot, and react to whatever scandalous things you’re “hearing.”
The comedy comes from the nosiness we all occasionally indulge in. Your exaggerated reactions to the eavesdropped conversation will have friends in stitches.
24. Person pretending to work when boss walks by
Start slouched, playing on your phone or napping at your desk. Suddenly, alert! The boss is coming! The mad scramble to look busy – typing furiously, shuffling papers, putting on a serious expression just as they walk by.
This resonates with anyone who’s worked in an office. The instant transformation from slacker to employee-of-the-month candidate is universal workplace comedy.
25. Someone with a song stuck in their head
Begin normally, then show a tune slowly taking over your brain. The toe-tapping grows to head-bobbing, quiet humming, and finally full dancing and lip-syncing when you think no one’s watching.
The progression makes this fun to act out. Don’t forget the moment of embarrassment when you “notice” people watching your personal concert.
26. Person pretending to understand a foreign language
Nod confidently as if following along with your imaginary foreign speaker. Throw in some universal phrases like “Ah, yes” and “I see,” while your eyes betray total confusion. End with an enthusiastic response that clearly misses the mark.
This gets laughs because we’ve all pretended to understand something to avoid embarrassment. The contrast between your confident exterior and clear cluelessness makes it hilarious.
27. Someone trying to look cool dancing
Start with cautious, basic moves, checking out what others are doing. Gain confidence and attempt something more complicated – a spin or fancy footwork – but clearly mess it up. Recover by returning to simple bobbing while pretending that was intentional.
The humor comes from the universal experience of trying to impress on the dance floor and failing. Your friends will be laughing with you, not at you (mostly).
28. Person carrying too many grocery bags
Start by loading up both arms with imaginary bags, determined to make just one trip from car to house. Show the strain, the plastic cutting into fingers, the careful balancing act, and the desperate struggle to open the door without putting anything down.
This resonates because we’ve all pushed the limits of how much we can carry to avoid making multiple trips. The stubborn determination despite obvious difficulty makes it funny.
29. Someone trying to walk in flippers
Take exaggerated, awkward steps, lifting your feet high with each movement. Add the awkward waddling, arms out for balance, and the constant risk of tripping over your own giant feet.
The physical comedy of normal walking turned difficult is instantly funny. This works especially well if you have long legs and can really emphasize the clumsy movements.
30. Person with new invisible braces
Start normal, then show the moment the orthodontist pain kicks in. The strange mouth movements as you try to get comfortable, excessive drooling, and the weird “new braces” speech where you can’t quite close your mouth properly.
The comedy comes from trying to act normal while dealing with major mouth discomfort. End with trying to eat something challenging like an apple or corn on the cob for maximum laughs.
Wrapping Up
Game night just leveled up! With these charades ideas, you’ll turn those awkward silences into laugh-out-loud moments. The best charades clues tap into shared experiences we can all relate to – the small embarrassments and silly situations that make up daily life.
So next time you host game night, ditch the boring “occupation” cards and stock your charades jar with these comedy gold nuggets instead. Your friends might not thank you while they’re rolling on the floor laughing at your spot-on “brain freeze” impression, but they’ll definitely ask when they can come back for more.