Secret Santa Clues: The 3-Clue Order, Riddles and 18 Examples

A good Secret Santa clue describes the person by a habit, never their looks, and comes in three steps: a broad clue that fits half the room, a narrower one, and a dead giveaway. Said in that order, it holds the suspense for a few seconds and ends with everyone pointing at the right person.

The most common mistake (and almost everyone has made it) is the opposite: leading with the obvious clue, so the fun is over in the first sentence. Below you’ll find the order of the three clues, 18 ready-made clues by personality, rhyming riddles to read out loud, hint notes for when you want to tease who you are, and the list of things never to say in front of the family.

The order of the 3 clues: broad, narrower, dead giveaway

The perfect clue isn’t the hardest or the easiest. It’s the one that builds suspense for a few seconds and ends with the whole group pointing at the right person. Three clues in increasing order get you there:

1. Broad clue: fits several people in the circle. Example: “My Secret Santa loves getting up early.”
2. Narrower clue: cuts it down to two or three people. Example: “On Sundays, they’re the first one at the bakery.”
3. Dead giveaway: fits only one person. Example: “And they always come back with extra bread for whoever’s at the house.”

Between clues, give people time to guess. That pause is when the group laughs, argues and builds the excitement of the reveal. If the group is big, agree on a limit, like three clues and one minute of guessing per person, so the reveal doesn’t drag on.

18 ready-made clues by personality (just swap the details)

Use the table as a starting point and swap in details about your own person. The more specific the third clue, the faster the reveal.

Clue types that work: habits, catchphrases, “if they were a…” and riddles

Habits and Routines

This is the safest kind. Talk about what the person does day to day: what time they wake up, the drink they always order, their favorite spot on the couch, the team they root for, the way they organize the fridge. Habits are easy to recognize and rarely embarrass anyone.

Catchphrases

Almost everyone has a phrase they repeat. Imitating it, affectionately, usually gets a big laugh and gives the person away instantly. That’s why it’s best saved for the third clue.

“If They Were a…”

Compare the person to something else: “If my Secret Santa were a dessert, they’d be flan: calm on the outside, with a sauce that surprises you.” It works with food, animals, seasons, household objects or kinds of music. The group has to interpret it, which makes the clue more fun.

Rhyming Riddles

A simple four-line verse, with the second and fourth lines rhyming, does the trick. It doesn’t have to be award-winning poetry; it just has to fit the person. A few original examples to adapt:

• “Always late to the party, but never without a treat; brings cookies, brings a casserole, and something sweet to eat.”
• “Has plants in every window, on the porch and by the door; chats with the ferns each morning, then waters a few more.”
• “Plans the party top to bottom, with a list and a spreadsheet too; if someone forgets the time, guess who sends the text to you?”
• “Never misses a single game, still cheering at the final play; on Sunday afternoons, the TV’s taken, by the way.”

Clues with an Object

Instead of talking, show something connected to the person: a dish towel for the one who lives in the kitchen, a ball for the athlete, a book for the family reader. This works really well with kids, who grasp concrete things more easily.

At a summer Christmas, as in Australia or New Zealand, where the gift swap often happens at a backyard barbecue or by the pool, object clues are especially easy: a cricket ball, a pair of sunglasses or a beach towel held up at the right moment says more than a whole riddle.

Hint notes: how to tease who you are without giving it away

In many offices and friend groups the game works the other way around: the gift arrives anonymously, and the giver leaves a little note with a hint about their own identity. The same three-step logic applies, only now the clues are about you.

• Broad: “I sit closer to you than you think.”
• Narrower: “My coffee mug has been on the same corner of the desk since March.”
• Dead giveaway (save it for the reveal): “I’m the one who always brings the snacks to Friday meetings.”

A playful bit of misdirection is fine (“I’m definitely not a morning person” from the one who arrives at 7 a.m.), as long as the final clue is fair. If the group barely knows each other, make the hints easier; if you see the person every day, you can make them work for it.

What never to use as a clue (looks, money, love life)

The reveal happens in front of everyone, sometimes with relatives who rarely see each other. What seems funny to you could expose or hurt your person. Leave out:

• Looks and body: weight, height, hair, age, wrinkles.
• Money: salary, debt, who got or lost a job.
• Love life: breakups, dating, “when are you getting married?”
• Health: illnesses, medications, treatments.
• Religion and politics: topics that divide the table.
• Secrets and nicknames the person doesn’t like: if you wouldn’t say it to them one-on-one, don’t say it in front of the group.

One simple rule helps: the clue should make the person smile when they’re recognized, not want to disappear from the room.

When you don’t know your person well: 4 ways around it

This happens a lot at a partner’s family Secret Santa, with a new group of friends or in a big office exchange. A few ways around it:

• Pay attention in the weeks before: what the person says in the group chat, what they post, what they share at get-togethers.
• Ask someone close to them, discreetly: a sibling or friend can pass along two or three habits without suspecting a thing.
• Use the gift itself as a clue: “I picked something for someone who loves…” already points the group in the right direction.
• Talk about what you noticed that day: the color of their outfit, the dish they brought, where they’re sitting.

If you haven’t bought the gift yet, the details you gather will also help you choose well, even on a tight budget.

Clues when kids are playing: how to keep them from blurting the name

Kids love giving clues, but they tend to blurt out the name in the first sentence. Help them ahead of time:

• rehearse the three clues beforehand, ideally away from the group;
• stick to concrete clues, like a favorite color, favorite game or a food the person likes;
• let them act it out or show an object instead of talking;
• agree that an adult will stand next to them to help if they freeze;
• let them choose at least one of the clues on their own, so the reveal feels like theirs;
• celebrate when the group guesses right, even if it was quick.

A reveal with kids is one of the best parts of the night. For other ways to include the little ones, check out these family Christmas activities.

May your reveal end the way the best ones do: the whole room laughing, and your person smiling as they walk over for the hug.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many clues should you give in Secret Santa?

Three is usually the ideal number: a broad clue that fits several people, a narrower one that cuts it down to two or three, and a dead giveaway that fits only your person. More than that slows down the reveal.

How do you write a Secret Santa riddle?

Write a four-line verse with the second and fourth lines rhyming, about one of the person’s habits or quirks. Read it slowly and let the group guess before you reveal.

What should you avoid saying when giving Secret Santa clues?

Avoid looks, weight, age, money, love life, health, religion, politics and nicknames the person doesn’t like. If you wouldn’t say it to them one-on-one, don’t say it in front of the group.

What if nobody guesses who it is?

Give a fourth, very direct clue, like where the person is sitting or what they’re wearing. If nobody gets it even then, walk over with the gift and reveal it with a hug.