The Taboo Game

At one stage I ached so much I didn't think I could take any more - do you know the feeling? It was hysterical we were all laughing so much. I felt quite red in the face and there were tears in my eyes. To think that just a short while earlier we were all so reserved and on our best behaviour. That all changed, however, once we started playing Taboo.

It was one of those evenings: three couples sitting round a dining room table making polite converstaion, and it was all getting a little strained. The meal had been OK but afterwards it became quite boring. Sue, who's house it was, said, "Let's have a game of Taboo."

I groaned quietly to myself thinking, "Oh, no, no, no." I really didn't want to play a 'kid's game' but everyone else agreed so we split into two teams. The challenge was on: Girls versus Guys. Sue opened more bottles of wine and we started playing.

We were still a little reserved at first but within a short while all inhibitions had gone and we were having so much fun, everyone was relaxed and laughing. I think it was the word 'stiff' that started us off but I'm probably getting a bit ahead of myself. Just in case you don't know the game I'd better tell you first a little of what it is all about.

No it's not an 'adults only' game! It can be played by most ages.

The idea is that one team member, the 'Clue Giver', must try to describe a 'Guess Word' that is shown on a card, so that the other team members can guess what it is. I know this doesn't sound highly amusing but, trust me, it can be.

As an example the Guess Word might be something simple like 'apple' but also on the card are five 'Taboo Words' that mustn't be used. In the case of apple they are: Red, Fruit, Pie, Cider and Core. The Clue Giver mustn't say the Taboo Words so may say something like, "It's round, smooth and has pips in the middle" or "William Tell shot one." Get it? Simple really.

In the case of the Guess Word 'stiff', that broke the ice with us, the Taboo Word's are: Rigid, Corpse, Drink, Hard & Dead. Sue described this as, "How she liked her boyfriend to be." Still not funny? Perhaps you had to be there and have had a few glasses of wine first. But us three girls just laughed and laughed from then on over our descriptions of Guess Words such as: Belly Button, Fumble, Stockings, Nozzle, Lingerie, Pill, Bizarre and Toy (ours had batteries in).

More about the game. In the Taboo box there are:

•The Cards. Hundreds of them each showing a Guess Word and the Taboo Words.
•A plastic Card Holder. The cards are drawn one at a time from this by the Clue Giver - everyone takes it in turn.
•A Timer. This looks like an egg timer and each person has just over a minute to try and get across as many words as possible to his/her team members.
•A Hooter! The opposing team have this and squeeze it (the hooter) when the time is up or if the Clue Giver says one of the Taboo Words or cheats in any way.
•Score Pad. First team to 50 wins. There is one point for each word guessed correctly and one to the other team if you have to 'pass' or say one of the Taboo Words accidently - and this does happen.
•A Pencil. Surprisingly this is to use on the Score Pad.
•Instruction Card with the rules to help settle any inevitable arguments.

After a while the game does get very competitive, well ours did. We girls just had to win. Whichever guy was the Clue Giver we stood behind him and did everything (legal) to try and put him off his stroke. We also held the hooter close to his ear, and other parts of his anatomy, to pile on the pressure.

Of course, the guys started doing the same to us. It's hard enough to concentrate after quite a lot of wine without having three hunky guys round you and feeling peanuts dropping down your cleavage! Nevertheless, in spite of all of their ungentlemanly conduct, us girls won the first game with much singing of, "We are the Champions ..."

The second game got real 'nasty', in a funny way of course, as we decided their would be forfeits for the losers. I'm sure they must have cheated, or we may have had too much wine, but somehow the guys won which proved a little embarrassing - I won't go into details!

Since that night I've bought my own Taboo. My boyfriend and I have even played it with my mum and dad and my brother and his girlfriend. We still had lots of laughs but a little more refined!

I'd recommend this game for family gatherings, birthdays, Christmas or with a group of friends once in a while. Taboo can be as innocent or as rude as the participants will allow, but either way there should be a few smiles and a little 'coming together'.

Not all of the Guess Words are as easy as the ones I have mentioned. Try describing Plagiarism (without using copy, steal, credit, word, ideas), Eisteddfod (no Wales, bard, music, poetry, festival) or Awning (no canopy, covering, windows, door, overhang). The rules say no gestures, abbreviations, sound effects or 'rhymes with' can be used. It's can be quite interesting to see how other peoples' minds work.

Well I'm now going to remove all of my clothes and immerse myself in some warm clear liquid full of nice smelly stuff. I'm then off to a place where men and women act and do things on a raised platform. Yes, I'm having a bath before going to the theatre.

It's only Taboo if you make it so.