Skip to content
Party Game Generator

Hard Charades Ideas for Adults

Idioms, phrases and abstract ideas for groups who find regular charades too easy. Allow 90 seconds and the 'sounds like' signal.

50 words ready

Press the button to get your first word.

1:00

Tip: press the space bar for the next one.

The full list: 50 words

Prefer to read them all? Every word in the generator is below.

Hard (50)

  • Jealousy
  • Déjà vu
  • Procrastination
  • Gravity
  • Daylight saving time
  • Writer's block
  • Stage fright
  • Brain freeze
  • Butterflies in your stomach
  • Walking on eggshells
  • Raining cats and dogs
  • Break a leg
  • Spill the beans
  • Under the weather
  • Once in a blue moon
  • Cold feet
  • The elephant in the room
  • Head over heels
  • Hit the sack
  • Bite the bullet
  • Midlife crisis
  • Jet lag
  • Peer pressure
  • Global warming
  • Social media
  • Online dating
  • Reply all
  • Buffering
  • Autocorrect
  • A software update
  • Stuck in traffic
  • Losing your keys
  • First day at a new job
  • A blind date
  • Assembling flat-pack furniture
  • A job interview
  • Tax season
  • Reality TV
  • Rush hour
  • A power outage
  • The Mona Lisa
  • The Statue of Liberty
  • The Olympics
  • The Big Bang
  • Time travel
  • Hide and seek champion
  • Sleepwalking
  • Hiccups
  • A wedding speech
  • Recycling

How to play charades

  1. Split into two teams. One player from the first team takes the phone.
  2. Press the button, then 'Hide word' so only the actor sees it.
  3. Start the 60-second timer. The actor acts the word out without speaking, pointing at letters or mouthing words.
  4. Use the standard signs: hold up fingers for the number of words, tap your arm for syllables, cup your ear for 'sounds like'.
  5. If the team guesses before the timer ends, they score a point. Then the other team takes a turn.

Playing offline? Card games we like

  • Charades card game for kids

    Picture cards for kids who can't read yet, so the little ones can play too.

    See it on Amazon

  • Heads Up style party game

    The forehead-guessing cousin of charades. Great for big groups.

    See it on Amazon

  • Sand timers for games

    If you'd rather not hand round a phone, a one-minute sand timer does the job.

    See it on Amazon

These are Amazon links. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you.

Questions people ask

What are the rules of charades?

One person acts out a word or phrase without speaking while their team guesses. No talking, no pointing at objects in the room, and no mouthing words. The team scores if they guess within the time limit, usually one minute.

What are good charades ideas for kids?

Animals and everyday actions work best for young kids: brushing teeth, swimming, a monkey, a robot. Pick the 'Easy / kids' category in the generator.

What are the hand signals in charades?

Hold up fingers to show the number of words. Then hold up fingers again for which word you are acting. Lay fingers on your forearm to show the number of syllables. Cup your ear for 'sounds like'. Crank an imaginary camera for a movie, open your palms like a book for a book title, and pretend to sing for a song.

How long should each charades turn be?

One minute is standard. Use 90 seconds for hard words and phrases, and skip the timer entirely for very young kids.

More party game generators