Spin Results

Buzzer

Press start

0:45

Round length

sec

New word every

sec

Auto-advance to the next word

Space start / pause · → skip word

Wheel Entries

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Number of Spins:

How to Play Catchphrase With the Wheel

1Sit in a circle with two teams alternating around it.

2Press Start — a word appears and the buzzer counts down.

3Describe the word without saying it or anything that rhymes with it.

4On a correct guess, press → and pass the device on.

5Whoever is holding it when the buzzer sounds loses the round.

Frequently Asked Questions

How is Catchphrase different from charades?

In charades you act silently and one person performs while everyone watches. In Catchphrase you talk — describing the word using anything except the word itself — and the device gets passed around a circle while a hidden countdown runs. The tension is completely different: charades is about performance, Catchphrase is about not being the one holding it when the buzzer goes.

How long should the buzzer be?

Forty-five seconds is the default and it is the sweet spot for a circle of six to eight. Bigger groups want 60 or 90 so the device gets round more than once. The classic version of this game randomises the buzzer so nobody knows exactly when it will go — you can imitate that by varying the preset between rounds without telling anyone.

What are you not allowed to say?

The word itself, any part of a compound word, and anything that rhymes with it. Most house rules also ban first letters and “it sounds like”. Gestures are usually allowed, which is what makes it different from a pure word game — and agreeing on all of this before the first spin saves a lot of arguing later.

Can we use our own words?

Yes. Clear the entry panel and paste in your own list — this game works especially well with categories, so a round of only foods or only films changes the feel completely. Everyday physical objects, like the defaults here, are the most reliable because everyone can describe them from several angles.

Does the timer make a sound?

It ticks over the final five seconds and dings at zero, which is what you want in a passing game — nobody should be watching the screen, they should be listening for it. Your browser needs one tap on the page before it allows audio, so the first spin turns the sound on.

Catchphrase Word Generator Wheel

How to Play Catchphrase With the Wheel

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Frequently Asked Questions