===== Conventions in Charades -- INTRODUCTION ==========

The best-known convention means "You guessed exactly right," or "on the nose."  The sign is to touch your nose with your index finger and point to the guesser with the other.  (Your other index finger, not your other nose.)

The signs for all the other conventions are sorted into three lists: Categories, Words and Syllables, and Other.

An overriding convention is the first two steps.  STEP #1 is always to sign the category, and STEP #2 is always to sign the total number of words.


===== Conventions in Charades -- CATEGORIES ==========

<< Book >> -- Press the palms of your hands together in front of you, then open them as though they were hinged at the little fingers.

<< Movie >> -- Hold your left hand up to your eye like you're holding a spyglass, and make vertical circles in the air with your right fist.

<< Song >> -- Hold both hands up to your mouth as if to shout.

<< TV show >> -- Place your forefingers together in front of you pointing at the guessers, then draw a rectangle in the air the shape of a television screen.

<< Play >> -- Pretend to pull on the rope that opens a theater curtain.

<< Person >>-- Place your hands on your hips, i.e., hold your arms akimbo.

<< Phrase or quote >> -- Make finger-quotes in the air.  Make one pair of double-quotes for a phrase.  Immediately make a second pair for a quote or proverb.


===== Conventions in Charades -- WORDS AND SYLLABLES ==========

You sign the number of words by holding up the appropriate number of fingers to the guessers, palm away from you. You sign the number of syllables by placing the appropriate number of fingers palm down, on your forearm.

<< How many words >> -- Count up the number of words in the target, then hold up that many fingers in front of you, palm facing the guessers.

This is invariably STEP #2 in a round of Charades.  If you make the "Number of words" sign a second time, it has a new meaning, described immediately below.

<< Which word >> -- To indicate which word you're going to mime, count out to that word and hold up THAT number of fingers in the same way as above.

<< How many syllables >> -- To indicate how many syllables are in the word you're going to mime, place that number of fingers on your forearm.

If you make the "fingers on forearm" sign a second time, it has a new meaning, described immediately below.

<< Which syllable >> -- To indicate which syllable of the word you're going for, count out to that syllable and place THAT number of fingers on your forearm in the same way as above.


===== Conventions in Charades -- OTHER ==========

<< Small word >> -- Hold your thumb and forefinger an inch apart horizontally.

<< Sounds like >> -- Tug your earlobe.

<< Chop the word >> -- Hold one hand in front of you with the palm facing sideways and use the other hand to pantomime chopping.

<< Lengthen the word >> -- Mime stretching a rubber band horizontally.

<< Past tense of the word >> -- Hold out one hand palm up and then wave it up to your shoulder.

<< Stop >> -- Hold out both hands, palms facing the players.

<< You're on the wrong track >> -- Wave your hands over one another, palms facing the guessers.

<< You're on the right track >> -- Wave both hands toward yourself, palms toward you.



February 2004 -- Adapted for printing from the more complete, less humorless version at barelybad.com/charades.htm