• 150 words

Charades Spin the Wheel

Choose a group, spin with the screen turned away from your team, and act out the word that lands.

Charades Spin the Wheel

Click the button or the wheel, or press Space or Enter. Press again to skip.Tap the button or the wheel. Tap again to skip.

Trimming a…Yodeling on…PigeonBloodhoundStegosaurusMagpieIguanaDodoBellhopDog groomerReclinerWheelbarrowSunglassesTape…MegaphoneTricycleFishing rodGumball…The Gold…The KidThe Ant and…The Goose…Jack Be…Phantom of…

Sample result

Magpie

Hop along, spot something shiny, snatch it, fly home and add it to a glittering pile.

My list: 24 of 150 words on the wheel

Your own go on the wheel with the words.

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    Each winner leaves the wheel before the next spin.

    The wheel shows 24 of 150 words. Every spin picks from all 150.

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      On the wheel

        Next step More animals to act? Spin the animal wheelNot in teams yet? Split the room fairly

        All 150 words

        Actions 30

        • Accepting an award Look shocked, hug the people beside you, walk up, lift a trophy and unfold a very long speech.
        • Chasing a chicken Crouch with arms wide, lunge and miss, lunge again, then spit out a feather.
        • Conducting an orchestra Tap the stand twice, raise both arms, then bring in the violins.
        • Counting sheep to fall asleep Head on your hands, point at sheep hopping a fence one at a time, nod off in the middle of the count.
        • Crawling across a desert toward a mirage Drag yourself along, wipe your brow, spot water ahead, dive in and come up with a mouthful of sand.
        • Crying at the end of a movie Eat popcorn, slow down, let your lip wobble, then dab your eyes with the napkin.
        • Drawing water from a well Lower a bucket hand under hand, wait for the splash, then crank a handle to bring it up.
        • Herding geese Arms wide, shuffle a flock forward, then get chased back by the one that turns on you.
        • Launching a model rocket Set it down with care, back away unrolling a wire, count down on your fingers, press, and look up fast.
        Show all 150 words (141 more)

        Actions, continued

        • Log rolling Arms out, run on the spot with quick tiny steps, look down at the spinning log, topple in.
        • Making shadow puppets Link your thumbs and flap your fingers at a wall, then check the shadow over your shoulder.
        • Painting a ceiling Roller overhead, then wipe a drip out of your eye.
        • Peeling an orange in one piece Dig a thumbnail in at the top, turn the orange slowly, then hold up one long spiral.
        • Planting a tree Dig a hole, lower in a sapling, stamp the soil down, then watch it grow past your head.
        • Pulling a sword from a stone Grip a hilt with both hands and heave, fail, try again, then slide it free and raise it high.
        • Pulling a tablecloth out from under the dishes Grip the edge of the cloth, take a breath, whip it away, then peek through your fingers.
        • Riding a camel Lurch forward, then back, as it stands up, then sway side to side between two humps.
        • Searching for a four-leaf clover On hands and knees, part the grass and count leaves on your fingers: three, three, three, four!
        • Snorkeling Mask down, bite the tube, float face down with slow flipper kicks and point at a fish.
        • Spinning plates on sticks Set one plate wobbling on a stick, start a second, then dash back to save the first.
        • Taking a curtain call Run on, bow deep, catch a thrown bouquet, blow kisses, and back away still bowing.
        • Teaching a parrot to talk Hold a bird on your finger, coach it with big hand signals, offer a cracker, then jump when it finally answers.
        • Tossing a coin into a fountain Turn your back, close your eyes, flick a coin over your shoulder and listen for the splash.
        • Trimming a hedge into a shape Snip with big shears, step back, tilt your head, snip again, then reveal it with a flourish.
        • Trying on 3D glasses Slide on a pair of glasses, then flinch and duck as things fly out of the screen at you.
        • Turning pages for a pianist Stand beside someone playing, lean in, flip a page on their nod, then flip two by mistake and panic.
        • Walking a cat on a leash Hold a leash, stride off, get pulled to a stop, look back, and end up carrying it.
        • Walking on stilts Strap on one leg, then the other, rise up high and take stiff giant steps, ducking under a doorway.
        • Washing an elephant Scrub big circles above your head, then get sprayed by the trunk.
        • Yodeling on a mountaintop Plant a flag, cup your hands round your mouth, throw your head back, then cup an ear for the echo.

        Animals 30

        • Alpaca Long neck, fluffy topknot, chew sideways, then stand still for a haircut that leaves you skinny.
        • Bloodhound Nose to the floor, follow a scent in zigzags, then freeze, point, and bay silently at the sky.
        • Bulldog Push your jaw out, puff your cheeks, walk low and bow-legged, then flop down with a sigh.
        • Clam Press your palms together, open them a crack, peek out, snap shut.
        • Dachshund Stretch your hands far apart to show a long body, then trot on very short legs.
        • Dodo Waddle on short legs with tiny useless wings and a big hooked beak, then wave a sad goodbye.
        • Fruit bat Hang upside down wrapped in your wings, unfold one, and nibble a piece of fruit.
        • Glowworm Inch along a branch, then open and close your hands behind you like a small lamp switching on.
        • Greyhound Crouch in a starting box, burst out, and race a tight oval after something that stays just ahead.
        • Guide dog Walk steadily in a harness, stop short at a curb, look both ways, then lead on.
        • Hammerhead shark Fists at your temples to widen your head, a fin on your back, and swim in slow sweeps.
        • Hyena Hunch your shoulders, slink in a circle, then shake with silent laughter.
        • Iguana Lie flat on a warm rock, do slow push-ups, bob your head, and show a flap hanging under your chin.
        • Magpie Hop along, spot something shiny, snatch it, fly home and add it to a glittering pile.
        • Manta ray Arms out wide as wings, ripple them slowly from shoulder to fingertip, glide, and trail a thin tail.
        • Pigeon Strut with your head bobbing forward at every step, peck at crumbs, scatter when someone walks by.
        • Piranha Tiny quick swimming moves, then rapid snapping bites with your teeth bared, and hold up a clean bone.
        • Poodle Fluff pom-poms at your wrists, your ankles and the top of your head, then trot with your nose in the air.
        • Racehorse Paw the ground in a starting gate, spring out, gallop flat out and stretch your neck at the finish.
        • Saint Bernard Plod through deep snow, dig someone out with both front paws, then lick their face.
        • Stegosaurus Walk on all fours, stand a row of flat hands along your spine for plates, swing a spiked tail.
        • Stork Stand tall on one leg on a rooftop nest, tip your head back and clatter a long beak.
        • Swordfish One straight arm out from your nose as a blade, swim fast, and fence with the water.
        • Termite Gnaw along a table leg with tiny bites until the whole table tips over.
        • Tree frog Press your fingertips flat on an invisible window, climb it one sticky hand at a time, then blink slowly.
        • Triceratops Two fingers on your forehead and one on your nose for horns, a frill fanned behind your head, then a heavy stomp.
        • Truffle pig Snuffle along the ground on a lead, root hard at one spot, then get pulled back while someone digs up the prize.
        • Water buffalo Wade in up to your shoulders, only wide swept-back horns and nostrils showing, and flick an ear at a fly.
        • Woolly mammoth Shiver, draw two long curved tusks from your mouth, swing a trunk and brush shaggy hair off your eyes.
        • Yak Shaggy hair down to your knees, a heavy load on your back, and a slow plod up a steep mountain path.

        Jobs 30

        • Balloon twister Blow up a long thin balloon, twist it into a dog, and hand it down to a child.
        • Bellhop Small round hat, load suitcases on a cart, push it to a door, open it and hold out a hand for a tip.
        • Boom operator Hold a long pole overhead with both arms, follow two people talking, arms starting to shake.
        • Bricklayer Scoop mortar with a trowel, spread it, set a brick, tap it level, scrape off the extra.
        • Cake decorator Turn a cake on a stand, squeeze a piping bag in neat loops, place one cherry, step back.
        • Caricature artist Glance at a sitter, sketch fast, stretch out a giant chin on the page, turn the pad around.
        • Carpenter Pencil behind your ear, measure a plank, saw it, then hammer and hit your thumb.
        • Cobbler Set a shoe upside down on a stand, tap small nails into the sole, buff it with a cloth.
        • Deep-sea diver Lower a heavy round helmet on, walk in slow motion in lead boots, and wave at a passing fish.
        • Dog groomer Lift a dog onto a table, scrub, blow-dry while it shakes water over you, then tie a bow.
        • Farrier Lift a horse's hoof between your knees, file it, hammer a hot shoe into shape, nail it on.
        • Film extra Walk past in the background pretending to chat, go back to your mark, and do the same walk again.
        • Foley artist Watch a screen and make its sounds: clap two shells for hooves, crunch gravel underfoot, slam a tiny door.
        • Forklift driver Work two levers, slide forks under a pallet, lift it high, reverse while looking over your shoulder.
        • Gondolier Stand at the back of a narrow boat, push one long oar, duck under a low bridge.
        • Janitor Push a wide broom down a long hall, jingle a huge ring of keys, find the one that fits.
        • Jockey Crouch high over a horse's neck with your knees up, flick a crop, punch the air at the line.
        • Mayor Hang a heavy chain round your neck, wave to a crowd, snip a ribbon with giant scissors.
        • Newspaper carrier Pedal a bike, pull a rolled paper from a bag, fling it at a porch, wince at where it lands.
        • One-man band A drum on your back worked by one foot, cymbals between your knees, a guitar in your hands.
        • Optician Hold up one lens after another, then run a finger down an eye chart line by line.
        • Pit crew mechanic Drop to one knee as a car stops, buzz a power wrench, swap the tire, arms up, all in three seconds.
        • Sailor Haul a rope hand over hand, tie it off, salute, then sway on deck with your feet apart.
        • Sheep shearer Sit a sheep up between your knees, run clippers down in long strokes, peel the fleece off in one piece.
        • Ski instructor Snowplow slowly with your knees bent, turn to wave a line of learners on, watch one fall over.
        • Stagehand Dressed in black, creep on in the dark, move a chair to its mark, freeze when the lights come up.
        • Tennis umpire Climb a tall chair, swing your head left and right with the rally, then point firmly to one side.
        • Truck driver Haul yourself up into a high cab, turn a huge flat wheel, pull a cord for the horn.
        • Watchmaker Screw a loupe into one eye, lift tiny gears with tweezers, wind the crown, hold it to your ear.
        • Welder Flip a mask down with a nod, hold a torch to a seam, flinch from sparks, flip the mask up to check.

        Objects 30

        • Alarm clock Sleep standing up, jolt awake, then slap the top of the clock.
        • Bunk bed Climb a short ladder, lie down, bump your head on the ceiling, then wave at the sleeper below.
        • Cassette tape Poke a pencil through a small wheel and wind it, slot it in a player, press a chunky button.
        • Ceiling fan One arm circling flat above your head, pull a cord, circle faster.
        • Combination lock Turn a small dial right, left, right with your ear close, then tug it open.
        • Fishing rod Cast overhead, wait, feel a tug, reel hard with the rod bending, lift out something tiny.
        • Flagpole Clip on a flag, haul a rope hand over hand, watch it climb, then salute.
        • Garden gnome Pointed hat, long beard, hands on your belt, and stand perfectly still while someone mows round you.
        • Gong Lift a padded mallet with both hands, swing at a huge disc, then shake all over with the ring.
        • Gumball machine Put in a coin, twist a stiff handle, cup your hand under the chute, and watch it roll past your fingers.
        • Kaleidoscope Hold a tube to one eye, point it at the light, twist the end slowly and look amazed.
        • Leaf blower Hold a nozzle low, sweep a pile of leaves along, then turn round to see them all blowing back.
        • Mailbox Open a small door, reach in for letters, close it and raise the little flag on the side.
        • Megaphone Lift a cone to your mouth, then show everyone in front of you wincing and covering their ears.
        • Mousetrap Set down a crumb of cheese, bend a spring bar back very carefully, tiptoe away, then snap.
        • Pepper grinder Hold a tall mill over a plate, twist the top with a flourish, raise your eyebrows to ask: more?
        • Periscope Crouch, pull two handles down, press your eyes to it, walk in a slow circle, snap the handles up.
        • Recliner Sit, pull a side lever, shoot back with your feet up, sigh, then struggle to get out again.
        • Refrigerator Pull open a tall door, shiver, stare inside for far too long, close it, open it again.
        • Rotary phone Put a finger in a dial, drag it round, let it whirr back, again and again, then lift a heavy handset.
        • Skateboard One foot on, push with the other, arms out, a wobble.
        • Stopwatch Thumb on a button, click as a runner goes by, click again, stare at the time in disbelief.
        • Sunglasses Squint at the glare, slide them on, relax and look around coolly.
        • Tape measure Hook the end, pull it out long, mark a spot, then let it snap back and sting your fingers.
        • Tricycle Knees out wide on a tiny seat, pedal hard, ring a bell with your thumb.
        • Tuba Wrap both arms round a huge horn, puff your cheeks, and sway from side to side on every note.
        • Turnstile Drop in a coin, push a bar at hip height, shuffle through, and get your bag caught behind you.
        • Walkie-talkie Hold a chunky radio to your mouth, press a button to talk, let go to listen, pull up an antenna.
        • Wheelbarrow Lift two low handles, lean forward, steer round a corner and tip it.
        • Xylophone Two small mallets, run them up a row of bars from low to high, finish with one bright ping.

        Films and stories 30

        • A Trip to the Moon Film, 1902. Five words. Trip over your own feet, then draw a crescent in the sky.
        • Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves An 18th-century addition to the One Thousand and One Nights. Six words. Flash ten fingers four times, then order a rock door to open.
        • The Ant and the Grasshopper One of Aesop's fables. Five words. Haul a heavy crumb on your back, then fiddle and hop while winter comes.
        • Charade Film, 1963. One word, and yes, it is the name of the game. Act out someone acting.
        • The Circus Film, 1928. Two words. Juggle, walk a tightrope, crack a ringmaster's whip.
        • The Count of Monte Cristo Novel by Alexandre Dumas, serialized 1844 to 1846. Five words. Count on your fingers for the second word, then scratch days on a cell wall and dig up a chest.
        • Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde Novella by Robert Louis Stevenson, 1886, known by this short form of its title. Five words. Swallow a potion, clutch your throat, and straighten up as someone much nastier.
        • The Fox and the Grapes One of Aesop's fables. Five words. Jump for a bunch hanging out of reach, miss three times, shrug and walk off.
        • The General Film, 1926. Two words. A crisp salute and a chest full of medals.
        • The Gold Rush Film, 1925. Three words. Swing a pickaxe, pan a stream, then sprint on the spot for rush.
        • The Goose That Laid the Golden Eggs One of Aesop's fables. Seven words. Waddle, sit, stand up to find an egg, then bite it like a gold coin.
        • The Great Train Robbery Film, 1903. Four words. Pull a whistle and chug your arms, then tiptoe away with a sack.
        • Jack Be Nimble English nursery rhyme, written down by about 1815. Three words. Set a candlestick on the floor and hop over it, quick and light.
        • The Kid Film, 1921. Two words. Make the T sign for The, then show a child's height with a flat hand.
        • The Legend of Sleepy Hollow Short story by Washington Irving, 1820. Five words. Gallop, glance back in terror, and duck as a pumpkin flies at your head.
        • The Lion and the Mouse One of Aesop's fables. Five words. Roar and shake a mane, then nibble through a net with tiny front teeth.
        • Little Bo-Peep English nursery rhyme, first printed in 1810. Two words. Shade your eyes and search everywhere with a crook in your hand, then shrug.
        • The Little Red Hen American fable, in print since 1874. Four words. Flap your elbows, ask for help, get a head shake, and bake the bread alone.
        • The Owl and the Pussy-Cat Nonsense poem by Edward Lear, 1870. Five words. Big round eyes and a slow head turn, whiskers, then row a boat and strum a small guitar.
        • The Phantom of the Opera Novel by Gaston Leroux, serialized 1909 to 1910. Five words. Cover half your face with one hand, play a huge organ, and send a chandelier crashing down.
        • The Prince and the Pauper Novel by Mark Twain, 1881. Five words. Put on a crown, come face to face with your double, and swap the crown for rags.
        • Rip Van Winkle Short story by Washington Irving, 1819. Three words. Lie down under a tree, wake, and find a beard down to your belt.
        • Safety Last! Film, 1923. Two words. Buckle a seat belt for safety, then join the back of a line for last.
        • Sherlock Jr. Film, 1924. Two words. Magnifying glass for the detective, then a low flat hand for junior.
        • Swan Lake Ballet by Tchaikovsky, first staged in 1877. Two words. Arms rippling as wings, neck long, tiny steps on your toes.
        • The Three Billy Goats Gruff Norwegian folk tale, collected in the 1840s. Five words. Three fingers, horns, then trip-trap over a bridge with a troll under it.
        • Thumbelina Fairy tale by Hans Christian Andersen, 1835. One word. Hold up a thumb, then show someone small enough to sit on it.
        • The Town Mouse and the Country Mouse One of Aesop's fables. Seven words. Nibble a fancy dinner, bolt from a cat, then nibble plain grain in peace.
        • William Tell Opera by Rossini, 1829, from the older legend. Two words. Balance an apple on someone's head, pace away, and aim a crossbow.
        • Wings Film, 1927, and the first winner of the Academy Award for Best Picture. One word. Flap.

        How this list was compiled: Original list of 150 charades words and mime hints, rewritten for this site on 2026-09-18. The list was compared on 2026-09-18 with the charades lists on a sister site: no word here repeats one of theirs, and the 127 that did were replaced. A few everyday things, such as a pigeon or a skateboard, still turn up there inside longer scenes. The 30 titles are all in the public domain in the United States, where works published in 1930 or earlier are out of copyright as of 1 January 2026 (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_domain_in_the_United_States, checked 2026-09-18). Nine of the ten films were released between 1902 and 1928; the tenth, Charade (1963), is on Wikipedia's list of public-domain films because of a defective copyright notice (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_films_in_the_public_domain_in_the_United_States, checked 2026-09-18). The twenty tales, rhymes, stage works and novels date from Aesop to 1910. Each date and author in a hint was checked against that work's own Wikipedia article on 2026-09-18. The signals described on this page follow https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charades, checked the same day. Easy and Hard are this site's own tags: Easy can be acted with one clear movement, Hard needs a scene or a word-by-word approach. Spotted a mistake? Tell us through the contact page. Licence: own work

        How it works

        This charades spin the wheel game holds 150 words to act out: 30 each of actions, animals, jobs, objects, and films and stories. Spin the charades wheel with the screen turned away from your team and start miming. A word that lands leaves the wheel, and every word has a mime hint.

        Read the full guide

        How to play spin the wheel charades on one phone

        Split into two teams and agree a time limit before the first spin; 60 or 90 seconds both work. The page has no timer or scoreboard, so one player keeps time on a second phone and the tally on paper. The actor spins with the screen facing away from the room, reads the word and puts the phone face down. Then: no talking, no mouthing words, no spelling in the air, no pointing at things in the room. A correct guess inside the time scores one point.

        Signals every charades wheel spinner should know

        For a title, show its kind first: open your palms like a book, crank an old film camera, or take a bow for a play. Hold up fingers for the number of words and rest fingers on your inner elbow for syllables. Tug an earlobe for sounds like. Touch your nose and point when a guess is right. All 30 titles are public domain works in the United States; the 1963 film Charade is one because of a faulty copyright notice, though its music and original story are still protected.

        • Spend the first lap on Animals: thirty short words with big movements.
        • Stuck? Use the mime hint. For Clam: press your palms together, open them a crack, peek out, snap shut.
        • Agree before the first spin whether a close guess counts. Is bird enough for Pigeon?

        Questions and answers

        Can the rest of the room see the word?

        Yes, if they can see the screen. The word shows in large type when the wheel stops and stays in the results list below. Spin with your back to your team, then put the phone face down. Cover the list when the next actor takes over.

        What if the actor does not know the word?

        Spin again; nobody loses a turn for skipping, and in Elimination the skipped word has already left the wheel. Easy holds 88 words that one clear movement can carry. Hard holds the 62 that need a whole scene, such as Foley artist, and choosing Easy keeps them off the wheel.

        Where does charades come from?

        Charades began as a written riddle, popular in France in the 18th century. Acting the answers out started there in the early 19th century and soon reached Britain, where Vanity Fair and Jane Eyre both describe the game.

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