One person (the 'moderator') selects a person, place, or thing, announces which it is, and comes up with as many clues as there are other players. Each player then selects a clue, which is then communicated privately to that player.
After receiving their clue, each player takes a guess as to what the person, place, or thing is. Each player gets one clue, and all of their guesses must match it. Players take turns guessing, and try to deduce from others' guesses.
You are permitted to try to conceal your clue with unusual guesses, but if you break the clue badly enough you are penalized and spanked (this is up to the moderator to determine) and have to guess again.
If the game goes on for a long time and the moderator thinks that it is unlikely that any of the players will correctly guess the person, place, or thing, then the moderator may opt to reveal all of the players' clues to everyone in the room.
J: Person, place, or thing?
Moderator: Thing. OK, J, pick a number 1-4.
J: 4.
Moderator whispers, "Thing is something that can be easily carried, but could not easily be stuffed into a backpack." to J.
J: A trombone?
Moderator: Wrong. OK, W, 1-3.
W: 2.
Moderator whispers, "Thing is used to support something." to W.
W: A cinder block?
Moderator: No. OK, G, 1 or 3.
G: 1.
Moderator whispers, "Thing is long and thin." to G.
G: A flute?
Moderator: Wrong.
Moderator whispers, "Thing is sometimes encountered while hiking." to H.
H: A fox?
Moderator: Wrong. J?
J: An accordion?
Moderator: That doesn't fit your clue, sorry.
J: Whoops, sorry. How about a bucket of beer?
Moderator: Wrong. W?
W: A crutch?
Moderator: Wrong. G?
G: A staff?
Moderator: Ding ding ding! Correct.