Who Is the Spy Strategy: 8 Tips
Who Is the Spy is won with words and ears. Civilians must prove they share a word without saying too much; the spy must work out the other word and pretend to have it.
For civilians
1. Be precise, but not too precise
A vague sentence ("it's a thing") makes you look like the spy. A very exact one ("it's black and you drink it in the morning") gives the spy enough to copy. Aim for a detail that only someone holding your word would think of.
2. Describe use, place or feeling
"You queue for it at the station" or "my grandmother always had one" tell your fellow civilians a lot and tell the spy little. Avoid colour, size and category: those are shared by both words of a pair.
3. Listen for the sentence that fits a neighbour word
Most spies don't lie; they describe their own word honestly at first. A sentence that is true but slightly off ("it's sweet", when your word is tea) is the clue to follow.
4. Late speakers have an advantage — and a risk
Speaking last, you've heard everyone, so you can choose a detail nobody has used. But the spy speaking late can do the same. Watch who copies an earlier idea instead of adding a new one.
For the spy
5. Work out the pair first
You don't know you're the spy until the descriptions don't fit. As soon as two or three sentences feel strange, guess what the civilians' word might be and switch to details true of both words.
6. Repeat the safest idea, in new words
Rephrasing a description that nobody questioned is the spy's best cover. Don't invent bold new details: one wrong guess and the table turns on you.
For everyone
7. Vote on evidence, not on who is quiet
Shy players aren't more likely to be spies. Remember the one sentence that didn't fit and vote on that. In an online room you can change your vote until everyone has voted.
8. Use the run-off
On a tie, the tied players describe again. This is the best moment to catch a spy: ask yourself which of the two had to think longer for a new detail.
Back to the rules of Who Is the Spy.
Frequently asked questions
What makes a good description?
Something true of your word but not obvious, so that civilians recognise it and the spy can't use it. A detail about how, where or when you use the thing works better than its name, colour or category.
How can I tell that I'm the spy?
Listen to the first few descriptions. If several are true but feel slightly off for your word, you probably have the other word of the pair, and you should start describing things that fit both.
Last updated 2026-10-22