Drawing Game Phrases

Press Play a 90-second round and draw a whole phrase: an action, a scene, a pair or a saying.

Drawing Game Phrases

A snowdrift against a door

1 of 240

Next step Single words to draw

How it works

Every card in these drawing game phrases is two words or more: an action, a scene with an animal, a pair, or a saying to draw literally. Play in the style of the game sold as Pictionary. Press Play a 90-second round, then Next card.

Read the full guide

Pick the kind of phrase

Press Topic to choose. Everyday actions and Pairs that go together are the quickest to guess. Scenes with an animal need a small picture, such as A goat standing on a roof. Sayings drawn literally are the hard cards: draw the words, not the meaning, so Missing the boat is a boat pulling away from the dock.

A phrase needs every word

Agree before the first round that a guess must hold the whole phrase. The list under the deck gives a way in for each card and the meaning of each saying, so a stuck drawer can check one quietly.

Tips
  • For a pair, draw the easier half first. The team often shouts the second half before you start it.
  • When a guesser has half a saying, nod and point at the part still missing.

Questions and answers

How is a phrase card different from a word card?

A word card is one thing, such as Teapot. A phrase card is something happening or two things together, such as Dunking a cookie in milk. The guess must hold every word, which is why a round here runs 90 seconds.

Does the drawer need to know what a saying means?

No. Draw it literally: for A fly in the ointment, a jar with a fly in it. The meaning of each saying is printed in the list under the deck, for the argument afterwards.

Which phrases suit younger players?

Press Topic, then Easy, or choose the topics Everyday actions and Pairs that go together. Leave the sayings for players who have heard them before. For a deck written for ages five to ten, see drawing game words for kids.

More tools

Browse Acting and Drawing

All 240 phrases

Everyday actions 40

  • Balancing a tray of glasses A flat hand, a tray on it and tall glasses starting to lean.
  • Buttering a slice of toast A slice of bread and a knife spreading a square across it.
  • Carrying a ladder through a doorway A door frame, a long ladder held sideways and both ends too wide to fit.
  • Carrying a mattress up the stairs A staircase, a big floppy slab and one person at each end.
  • Chasing a runaway shopping cart A cart rolling down a slope by itself and a shopper running after it.
  • Checking the mailbox A box on a post with its door open and a hand reaching in.
  • Chopping an onion A board, a knife and a cook with tears running down.
  • Closing an overstuffed drawer A drawer with clothes spilling over the top and two hands pushing it.
  • Counting coins from a jar A jar on its side and small stacks of coins in a row.
  • Dropping a letter in the mailbox A big box on the street with a slot, and a hand letting go of an envelope.
  • Dunking a cookie in milk A glass, and a round cookie half below the surface.
Show all 240 phrases (229 more)

Everyday actions, continued

  • Hanging the washing out to dry A line, a basket on the ground and a person pegging up a shirt.
  • Holding a ladder steady A ladder against a wall, one person up it and one gripping the bottom.
  • Holding the door open A door, a person leaning on it and another walking through with full arms.
  • Hunting for a matching sock One sock held up and a heap of odd ones on the bed.
  • Licking an envelope A face side on, a tongue and the flap of an envelope.
  • Locking the front door A door, a hand and a key turning in the lock.
  • Losing a shoe in the mud One foot in a sock, held up, and a shoe stuck in a puddle behind.
  • Mopping up a spill A puddle on the floor, a tipped cup and a mop coming in.
  • Parking a car in a tight spot Seen from above: two cars at the curb and a third at an angle between them.
  • Plugging in a phone charger A wall socket, a plug going in and a cable to a phone.
  • Polishing a shoe A shoe on one hand, a cloth in the other and a little star where it shines.
  • Pouring a glass of milk A carton tilted over a glass that is half full.
  • Pushing a stalled car A car with its hood up and two people leaning on the back of it.
  • Pushing a stroller uphill A steep slope, a stroller and a person leaning far forward.
  • Reading in bed A pillow, a lamp and a book held up over a blanket.
  • Returning a library book A slot in a wall, a book going in and a stack more under one arm.
  • Running for the last train A train at a platform with its doors closing and a runner with a bag flying behind.
  • Running up the stairs A zigzag of steps and a figure taking two at a time.
  • Shaking a rug out of the window A window, two arms holding a rug and a cloud of dust under it.
  • Slicing a loaf of bread A loaf on a board, a long knife and three slices fallen over.
  • Spilling coffee on a clean shirt A tipped cup, a splash in midair and a shirt with a tie.
  • Squeezing the last of the toothpaste A tube rolled up tight from the bottom, and a tiny dot on the brush.
  • Stepping on a toy block A bare foot, a small brick under it and a face that says ouch.
  • Tying a shoelace One big shoe, two hands and a bow half made.
  • Tying a tie in the mirror A person and their twin facing each other, both with hands at the collar.
  • Untangling a knot of cords A scribble of wires and two hands pulling at the ends.
  • Waiting for the kettle to boil A kettle on the stove, a person with arms folded and no steam yet.
  • Waiting in a long line Many stick people one behind another, and a clock above them.
  • Wiping the fog off a mirror A cloudy mirror with one clear stripe and a hand at the end of it.

Scenes with an animal 40

  • A beaver gnawing a log A log bitten to a point, wood chips and two big front teeth.
  • A camel crossing the desert Dunes, a hot sun and a camel with a load on its back.
  • A cat asleep on a laptop An open computer with a cat curled across the keys.
  • A cat hiding in a paper bag A bag on its side with a tail sticking out of the opening.
  • A cat watching a fish tank A glass box of fish and a cat with its nose against it.
  • A caterpillar eating a leaf A leaf with a bite out of its edge and a row of small circles on it.
  • A cow looking over a gate A gate with five bars and a big head resting on the top one.
  • A deer drinking from a stream A deer with its head down to the water and its front legs apart.
  • A dog asleep in a sunbeam A slanted block of light from a window and a dog lying inside it.
  • A dog carrying its own leash A dog trotting along with the loop of the leash in its mouth.
  • A dog digging up the garden A dog with its head down a hole and dirt flying out behind.
  • A dog waiting at the window A window from outside, with a nose and two ears above the sill.
  • A fox sneaking past a henhouse A small hut with hens in it and a fox on tiptoe in front.
  • A frog sitting on a lily pad A flat round leaf on the water and a frog in the middle of it.
  • A giraffe eating from a treetop A long neck that reaches the leaves with no ladder.
  • A goat standing on a roof A small house or shed with a goat on the ridge.
  • A goldfish jumping out of its bowl A round bowl, a splash and the fish in the air above it.
  • A hamster running on its wheel A wheel in a cage and a small animal inside it, legs a blur.
  • A hedgehog rolled into a ball A ball of spikes with a nose just showing.
  • A heron standing on one leg A tall bird in shallow water with one leg tucked up.
  • A horse eating an apple from a hand A flat palm, an apple on it and a big soft nose coming down.
  • A kitten tangled in yarn A ball of yarn come undone and a kitten wrapped in the loose end.
  • A ladybug on a fingertip One finger pointing up with a spotted dome on the end.
  • A lamb following a child A child walking ahead and a small woolly animal right behind.
  • A lizard sunning on a rock A flat rock, a lizard spread out on it and a sun above.
  • A mouse stealing the cheese A wedge with holes in it, carried off by something much smaller.
  • A parrot on a shoulder A person seen from the chest up, with a bird beside one ear.
  • A peacock showing its feathers A small body in front of a big fan of feathers with spots.
  • A pigeon on a statue's head A statue on a block and a bird on the very top of it.
  • A rabbit pulling up a carrot A row of leafy tops and a rabbit tugging one out of the ground.
  • A rooster crowing on a fence A fence post, a rooster with its beak wide open and a sun just rising.
  • A seagull eyeing a sandwich A person on a bench holding lunch, and a bird very close beside them.
  • A sheep getting a haircut A sheep half woolly and half bare, and a pile of wool beside it.
  • A squirrel hiding an acorn A squirrel, a small hole in the ground and the nut going in.
  • A swan gliding on a pond A long curved neck, a smooth wake and a second swan upside down in the water.
  • A wet dog shaking itself dry A blurry dog and drops flying off in every direction.
  • A whale blowing a spout A curved back above the waves and a fountain rising from it.
  • A woodpecker tapping on a tree A bird gripping a trunk, with short lines by its beak.
  • An ant carrying a crumb A tiny ant under a crumb much bigger than it is.
  • An owl awake at night A branch, a moon and a bird with two very round eyes.

Pairs that go together 40

  • Anchor and chain An anchor on the sea bed and a chain going up to a boat.
  • Bacon and eggs A pan with two eggs and wavy strips beside them.
  • Bat and ball A bat lying on the ground with a ball beside it.
  • Bread and butter A sliced loaf beside a dish with a block on it.
  • Bride and groom Two figures side by side: a long dress with a veil and a suit with a bow tie.
  • Bucket and shovel A sand bucket with a small shovel sticking out.
  • Burger and fries A burger in layers beside a carton of fries.
  • Camera and tripod A camera on three long legs.
  • Candle and matchbox A candle not yet lit and a small box of matches beside it.
  • Cat and mouse A cat crouched at one end and a mouse hole at the other.
  • Comb and mirror A hand mirror with a handle and a comb lying beside it.
  • Cup and saucer A cup with a handle sitting on a small flat plate.
  • Drum and drumsticks A drum from the side with two sticks crossed on top.
  • Dustpan and brush A flat pan on the floor and a small brush sweeping into it.
  • Hammer and nail A nail standing up in a board and a hammer above it.
  • Hat and scarf A knitted hat above a long scarf, as if on a peg.
  • Hook and line A rod, a line dropping into the water and a hook at its end.
  • King and queen Two people side by side in crowns, one crown taller than the other.
  • Kite and string A diamond high up and a long line down to a hand.
  • Knife and fork Draw them either side of an empty plate.
  • Lock and key Draw the padlock first, then the key going toward it.
  • Mop and bucket A bucket with a mop standing in it and a wet floor.
  • Nuts and bolts A bolt with a thread on it and a six-sided ring to screw on.
  • Paint and brush An open can with a drip down its side and a brush resting on top.
  • Peas and carrots A plate with a pile of small circles and a pile of small sticks.
  • Pen and paper A sheet with a few lines on it and a pen lying across.
  • Pencil and eraser A pencil beside a small block with crumbs round it.
  • Pillow and blanket A pillow at the top of a folded blanket.
  • Plug and socket A plug on the end of a cord, about to go into the wall.
  • Pot and lid A cooking pot with its lid lifted and steam coming out.
  • Shoes and socks A pair of shoes with a sock tucked into each one.
  • Soap and water A bar of soap, a tap and bubbles.
  • Stamp and envelope An envelope with a small square in its top corner.
  • Sun and moon One circle with rays and one thin curved slice, side by side.
  • Table and chairs A table seen from the side with a chair pushed in at each end.
  • Teapot and cups A round pot with a spout and two small cups in front.
  • Thunder and lightning A dark cloud, a jagged bolt and a person covering their ears.
  • Toothbrush and toothpaste A brush with a stripe of paste on it and the tube beside it.
  • Violin and bow A violin with its long bow laid across the strings.
  • Washer and dryer Two boxes side by side, each with a round door. Put clothes in one and steam on the other.

Sayings drawn literally 40

  • A bed of roses Means: a situation that is comfortable or easy.
  • A feather in your cap Means: an accomplishment, especially one you are proud of.
  • A fly in the ointment Means: a small thing that spoils everything else.
  • A hard pill to swallow Means: something unpleasant that has to be accepted.
  • A jack of all trades Means: a person who can do many different things.
  • An ace in the hole Means: a hidden strength or an advantage kept secret.
  • At the eleventh hour Means: at the last minute, just before it is too late.
  • Chewing the fat Means: chatting idly.
  • Clamming up Means: becoming silent; stopping talking.
  • Costing an arm and a leg Means: being very expensive.
  • Cutting a rug Means: dancing.
  • Digging your heels in Means: refusing to change your plans or ideas.
  • Getting your goat Means: irritating you.
  • Going for a song Means: being sold very cheaply; almost free.
  • Going out on a limb Means: taking a risk.
  • Going to the dogs Means: going bad; heading in a bad direction.
  • Having a green thumb Means: having a natural skill for gardening.
  • Hitting the ceiling Means: becoming very angry, perhaps more than is called for.
  • In over your head Means: overwhelmed by more than you can handle.
  • Jumping ship Means: leaving a job or a group suddenly.
  • Keeping your eyes peeled Means: being on the alert; staying watchful.
  • Like pulling teeth Means: very hard to get someone or something to do what you want.
  • Looking a gift horse in the mouth Means: finding fault with something you were given.
  • Missing the boat Means: being too late to take a chance.
  • Nipping it in the bud Means: stopping something early, before it grows.
  • The oldest trick in the book Means: a trick that still works even though everybody knows it.
  • Opening a can of worms Means: starting something that leads to many problems.
  • Pulling the rug out from under someone Means: suddenly taking away their support.
  • Putting the cat among the pigeons Means: causing a disturbance.
  • Right as rain Means: just right, or perfectly well.
  • Sitting on the fence Means: staying neutral and not taking a side.
  • Staying in your lane Means: minding your own business.
  • Stepping up to the plate Means: doing more than was expected of you.
  • The straw that broke the camel's back Means: the last in a line of things that could not be put up with.
  • Throwing the baby out with the bathwater Means: losing something valuable while getting rid of something unwanted.
  • Turning over a new leaf Means: starting a good habit or dropping a bad one.
  • Under someone's thumb Means: under their control.
  • Wearing your heart on your sleeve Means: being very open about your feelings.
  • Wolfing down dinner Means: eating greedily and fast.
  • Working around the clock Means: doing something all day and all night without stopping.

Sports and games in action 40

  • Balancing on a beam A long narrow beam on two legs and a gymnast with arms out.
  • Blocking a shot A ball in the air and a hand above it at full stretch.
  • Blowing the final whistle A referee with a whistle in their mouth and one arm up, and a clock.
  • Clearing the high jump bar A jumper arched backwards over a bar, with a mat below.
  • Dealing the cards A deck in one hand and cards landing in small piles.
  • Dribbling past a defender Two players, a ball at one pair of feet and a curved arrow round the other.
  • Flipping a coin A thumb and a coin spinning in the air above it.
  • Heading a soccer ball A player off the ground with the ball against their forehead.
  • Hitting a home run A batter mid-swing and a ball flying over a far fence.
  • Hitting a party pinata A shape hanging from a rope, a stick and sweets falling out.
  • Juggling three balls Two hands and three balls in an arc above them.
  • Jumping a hurdle A runner with one leg straight out over a bar on two legs.
  • Lacing up ice skates A boot with a blade under it and two hands pulling the laces tight.
  • Landing in the long jump pit A jumper feet first in a spray of sand.
  • Moving a chess piece A checkered board and fingers holding a piece above one square.
  • Pitching a curveball A pitcher on a mound and a dotted line that bends on its way to the batter.
  • Playing musical chairs A ring of chairs, one fewer than the people walking round it.
  • Playing tug of war A rope, a team leaning back at each end and a line on the ground between.
  • Popping a wheelie A bike with its front wheel up in the air.
  • Returning a serve A net, a player stretched wide and a ball on its way back over.
  • Riding a bike with no hands A bike going along with the rider's arms out wide.
  • Riding a skateboard A plank on four small wheels and a rider with knees bent.
  • Riding a wave on a surfboard A curling wave and a small figure on a board inside the curl.
  • Running a three-legged race Two runners side by side with their inside legs tied together.
  • Saving a penalty kick A goalkeeper flat out sideways with the ball at their fingertips.
  • Scoring a touchdown A player crossing a line with the ball held up, and two tall posts behind.
  • Sinking a basket A hoop, a ball dropping through and an arm still raised.
  • Sinking a hole in one A golfer far away, a dotted arc and a ball dropping into the cup by the flag.
  • Skating a figure eight A skater and the looped line their blades have cut in the ice.
  • Skiing down a hill A slope, two skis, two poles and a scarf flying back.
  • Sliding into home plate A runner feet first in a cloud of dust, and a catcher reaching down.
  • Spiking a volleyball A player high above a net with one arm coming down on the ball.
  • Spinning a basketball on one finger One finger pointing up, a ball on it and curved lines round the ball.
  • Stealing second base A runner diving at a square bag while a fielder waits for the ball.
  • Swimming laps Lane ropes, a swimmer mid-stroke and a wall at each end.
  • Swinging and missing A batter twisted right round and the ball already past.
  • Taking a free throw A player alone at a line, knees bent, ball up, hoop ahead.
  • Teeing off on a golf course A ball on a peg, a club behind it and a flag far away.
  • Throwing a flying disc A flat disc in the air between two people.
  • Winning a trophy A big cup with two handles held above a head.

Weather and the outdoors 40

  • A boat tied to a dock A small boat, a post and a rope between them.
  • A lighthouse in a storm A tower on a rock, a beam of light and a wave as tall as the door.
  • A long shadow at sunset A small person, a low sun and a shadow many times their height.
  • A puddle reflecting the sky A puddle on a path with a cloud and a bird drawn inside it.
  • A sailboat tipping in the wind A boat leaning hard, its sail full and a sailor hanging off the high side.
  • A scarecrow guarding a field A figure on a pole with straw at the cuffs, and rows of corn.
  • A snowdrift against a door A door with snow piled halfway up and a shovel leaning beside it.
  • A tent glowing at night A dark sky, a tent with light lines round it and a shadow on its wall.
  • A tide pool at low tide A hollow in the rocks with a starfish, a crab and the sea far off.
  • A weather vane spinning An arrow and a rooster on a roof, with curved lines round them.
  • An umbrella blown inside out An umbrella shaped like a cup, and rain coming in sideways.
  • Boots drying by the fire A fire and a pair of boots upside down on two sticks beside it.
  • Carrying a canoe overhead A long boat upside down with two pairs of legs under it.
  • Caught in the rain A person with a newspaper over their head, and no umbrella.
  • Clouds shaped like animals Two people lying on the grass pointing up at a cloud with ears.
  • Collecting shells along the shore A person bent over at the water's edge with a bucket of shells.
  • Digging for worms A fork in the soil, a worm and a tin can beside it.
  • Fishing off a dock A wooden pier, a person sitting at the end and a line in the water.
  • Fog over a bridge A bridge whose middle fades away into soft lines.
  • Frost on a window pane A window with feathery patterns spreading in from the corners.
  • Gazing at the stars A person lying on their back and a sky full of dots.
  • Hail bouncing off a car A car, a dark cloud and small balls hitting the roof and jumping.
  • Hanging a hammock Two trees, a curved bed of rope between them and a person tying one end.
  • Hiking up a mountain A zigzag path up a peak and a small figure with a backpack.
  • Icicles hanging from the gutter A roof edge with a row of long thin points below it.
  • Laundry flapping on the line A line between two poles and shirts all blown the same way.
  • Lightning striking a tree A bolt from a cloud to the top of a tree, and a split branch.
  • Mist rising off a lake Flat water at dawn with soft wavy lines lifting from it.
  • Mushrooms after the rain A wet lawn, a few last drops and a ring of small caps.
  • Planting a young tree A hole, a thin tree with its roots in a ball, and a shovel.
  • Raindrops racing down a window A pane of glass with two drops and wiggly trails behind them.
  • Sandals full of sand A sandal tipped up and sand pouring out of it.
  • Sheltering under a tree Rain all round, a dry patch under a tree and two people standing in it.
  • Sitting round a campfire A fire in the middle and a ring of people on logs.
  • Smoke curling from a chimney A cabin roof and a line of smoke that loops as it rises.
  • Sun breaking through the clouds A gap in dark clouds with straight rays coming down through it.
  • Wading across a creek A person in water to the knees, holding their shoes up high.
  • Watching the sunset Two people from behind and half a sun on the horizon.
  • Waves crashing on the rocks Dark rocks and a wave breaking into spray above them.
  • Wind bending the trees A row of trees all leaning the same way, with leaves streaming off.

How this list was compiled: Written by the Game Night Generator editors for this page on 2026-09-30: 240 phrases to draw, 40 in each of six topics, every card two words or more and none a single noun. Levels are an editor's judgment: Easy is one action or a pair of objects, Medium is a small scene, Hard is a saying. The line under each card is a suggested way to start the drawing, in our own words; under a saying it is the meaning. The meanings of 29 sayings were read on 2026-09-30 in Wikipedia's list, English-language idioms (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English-language_idioms), and the meanings of the other 11 in their Wiktionary entries on the same day (https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/ followed by can_of_worms, sit_on_the_fence, turn_over_a_new_leaf, miss_the_boat, go_out_on_a_limb, feather_in_one's_cap, fly_in_the_ointment, pull_the_rug_out_from_under, wear_one's_heart_on_one's_sleeve, green_thumb and keep_one's_eyes_peeled); each meaning is restated in our own words. The deck holds no brand names, no real people and no film, show or song titles. Checked by script on 2026-09-30 against every other list on this site, the drawing and charades decks included: no card repeats a card elsewhere, with small words such as a and the left out of the comparison. Licence: own work