While it’s not required, it’s a lot easier to pass the game unit quickly if you all sit in a circle alternating team members. No need to reach across the table or get the game unit to someone on the other side of the room this way. [2] X Research source You’ll see “Team 1” and “Team 2” buttons on the game unit. [3] X Research source You definitely want to decide who’s “Team 1” and who’s “Team 2” before you start to avoid confusion later. {“smallUrl”:“https://www. wikihow. com/images/thumb/d/dc/Play-Catch-Phrase-Step-1Bullet2. jpg/v4-460px-Play-Catch-Phrase-Step-1Bullet2. jpg”,“bigUrl”:"/images/thumb/d/dc/Play-Catch-Phrase-Step-1Bullet2. jpg/v4-728px-Play-Catch-Phrase-Step-1Bullet2. jpg",“smallWidth”:460,“smallHeight”:345,“bigWidth”:728,“bigHeight”:546,“licensing”:"<div class="mw-parser-output">

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If you have an older version of the game, use the “Advance” button to wake it up. [5] X Research source If you’ve played a game with this game unit before, press the “Team 1” and “Team 2” buttons at the same time and hold them down until the old score is erased. [6] X Research source {“smallUrl”:“https://www. wikihow. com/images/thumb/f/f7/Play-Catch-Phrase-Step-2Bullet2. jpg/v4-460px-Play-Catch-Phrase-Step-2Bullet2. jpg”,“bigUrl”:"/images/thumb/f/f7/Play-Catch-Phrase-Step-2Bullet2. jpg/v4-728px-Play-Catch-Phrase-Step-2Bullet2. jpg",“smallWidth”:460,“smallHeight”:345,“bigWidth”:728,“bigHeight”:546,“licensing”:"<div class="mw-parser-output">

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If you have the first version of the game, use the “Advance” button to choose the category. Once you start the timer, this button advances to the next catch phrase rather than showing categories. [8] X Research source

For example, if some members of your group speak a language other than English, you might want to ban all foreign language clues (or at least words that are direct translations of the catch phrase, such as “agua” when the catch phrase is “water”). [10] X Research source {“smallUrl”:“https://www. wikihow. com/images/thumb/0/09/Play-Catch-Phrase-Step-4Bullet1. jpg/v4-460px-Play-Catch-Phrase-Step-4Bullet1. jpg”,“bigUrl”:"/images/thumb/0/09/Play-Catch-Phrase-Step-4Bullet1. jpg/v4-728px-Play-Catch-Phrase-Step-4Bullet1. jpg",“smallWidth”:460,“smallHeight”:345,“bigWidth”:728,“bigHeight”:546,“licensing”:"<div class="mw-parser-output">

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<br />\n</p></div>"} House rules might also require the clue-giver to include a specific word in their clue if you want to make the game more challenging. If a clue-giver accidentally uses a type of clue that’s forbidden, the other team gets a point. This can be huge, so keep that in mind when you’re coming up with house rules. {“smallUrl”:“https://www. wikihow. com/images/thumb/9/94/Play-Catch-Phrase-Step-4Bullet3. jpg/v4-460px-Play-Catch-Phrase-Step-4Bullet3. jpg”,“bigUrl”:"/images/thumb/9/94/Play-Catch-Phrase-Step-4Bullet3. jpg/v4-728px-Play-Catch-Phrase-Step-4Bullet3. jpg",“smallWidth”:460,“smallHeight”:345,“bigWidth”:728,“bigHeight”:546,“licensing”:"<div class="mw-parser-output">

\u00a9 2023 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U. S. and international copyright laws. This image is not</b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.
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The second version of the game has a “Start/Stop” button rather than a “Timer” button, which functions the same way. [12] X Research source If you’re playing with some people who’ve never played before, you might want to start with a practice round to loosen everybody up and get familiar with the flow of the game. [13] X Research source

Use anything you know about your teammates’ backgrounds to your advantage when you’re trying to come up with clues. For example, if one of your teammates has a pet snake and the catch phrase includes the word “snake,” you might say, “It’s your pet!” {“smallUrl”:“https://www. wikihow. com/images/thumb/5/50/Play-Catch-Phrase-Step-6Bullet1. jpg/v4-460px-Play-Catch-Phrase-Step-6Bullet1. jpg”,“bigUrl”:"/images/thumb/5/50/Play-Catch-Phrase-Step-6Bullet1. jpg/v4-728px-Play-Catch-Phrase-Step-6Bullet1. jpg",“smallWidth”:460,“smallHeight”:345,“bigWidth”:728,“bigHeight”:546,“licensing”:"<div class="mw-parser-output">

\u00a9 2023 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U. S. and international copyright laws. This image is not</b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.
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Etiquette and good sportsmanship say don’t click the “Advance” (old version) or “Next” (new version) button to display the next clue until you’ve handed the game unit off. That way, the other team can confirm your team guessed correctly.

If you’re in the middle of handing off the game unit when the buzzer goes off, the game unit is still in your possession. It doesn’t leave your possession until the next player has taken complete control of the game unit and advanced to the next catch phrase.

The winning team doesn’t get any extra clues beyond what the clue-giver originally gave, so pay attention even when it’s not your turn to guess! The winning team can confer with each other to decide what they want to guess. They only get one chance for the extra bonus point.

For example, if your catch phrase is “Black Friday,” you might say, “the opposite of white” to get a team member to say “black. " Then you could say, “end of the work week” to get them to say “Friday. " Now all they have to do is put the words together! Notice that with “Friday,” you can’t use the word “day,” since that’s part of the clue. For that reason, listing days of the week is also out. You could even break up “Friday” and say “not baked but—” and then if they say “fried,” say, “not night but—”. Then get them to put those parts together. Just keep it moving.

To return to the “Black Friday” example, you could get your team to put the words together by saying, “after Thanksgiving” or “Christmas shopping. " If you’re guessing, on the other hand, you don’t have to keep shouting out random things until you land on the correct guess. Try to listen and really think (quickly!) about the clues you’re being given. Communication between teammates isn’t against the rules, so don’t be afraid to talk it out. If a clue isn’t working for you, just say “that’s not working for me,” or “give me something else. “[22] X Research source

Likewise, if you’re guessing, try to move on quickly from an incorrect guess.

This is also why alternating team members is the easiest way to sit, so you’re not having to pass the game unit across a table.

In the same spirit, you might want to separate people who are close in age as well if you have a wide range of ages playing. People in the same generation seem to get each other better than people in other generations.