In charades, players act out names, titles, or phrases in pantomime while other players try to guess them. The game is usually played in two teams.
Each player in turn is given a subject by the opposing team. The player then attempts to communicate the subject to his or her teammates by acting out key words. The performance is timed, and the team that guesses all of its subjects faster wins.
Special signs can be used. To show that you’ll be acting out a book title, for instance, hold your hands together like a book. Show the number of words in the subject by holding up your fingers. Then indicate which word you’re acting out; for instance, hold up three fingers for the third word. Divide a word into syllables by placing your fingers on your arm to indicate the number and to show which syllable you are acting out.