Taboo

How do you get your team to say diamond, if you can't say baseball, ring, carats, jewel or engagement' You might say, "These are a girl's best friend. Hope is a huge one. The World Series is played here. Some are found in the rough." Get your team to say the secret word. Give suggestive sentences, funny phrases or even one word hints as clues. But don't use any of the words on the card. That's Taboo! Each time your team shouts out the secret word, you get a point. But be careful! Your opponents will be "looking over your shoulder" - making sure you don't say any of the Taboo words. If you do and they catch you, they sound the buzzer and score the point! It's unspeakable fun. Take our word for it! For 4 or more players. Game includes: 504 cards, card holder, buzzer, timer, score pad, and instructions. Requires 2 "AA" alkaline batteries (not included).

It sounds so simple: get your team to name common words without voicing a few choice descriptors. But could you describe a wristwatch without mentioning time, wrist, or clock? Taboo rewards those who think--and speak--fast. The team that correctly identifies as many words as possible in a minute (measured with an hourglass timer) wins. If a member of the opposing team, armed with the blaring buzzer, catches the clue giver using any of the taboo words, a point is deducted from the group's score. It's a good idea to separate people who know each other well, because their familiarity can be too great an advantage. If the clue is spinach, prompting with "Mom made this every Monday" just doesn't seem fair, though it is permissible according to the rules. Playing Taboo requires an AA battery and a sense of humor--you'll need them both! The timer is included. Taboo is for four or more players. --Leah Ball