Zip and bong (also known as zip bong, zip 'n' bong, or zip zip bong) is a

car A car or automobile is a motor vehicle with wheels. Most definitions of ''cars'' say that they run primarily on roads, seat one to eight people, have four wheels, and mainly transport people instead of goods. The year 1886 is regarded as ...

party A party is a gathering of people who have been invited by a host for the purposes of socializing, conversation, recreation, or as part of a festival or other commemoration or celebration of a special occasion. A party will often feature f ...

group-dynamic game Team building is a collective term for various types of activities used to enhance social relations and define roles within teams, often involving collaborative tasks. It is distinct from team training, which is designed by a combine of business ...

which requires little skill and no accessories. Surfacing around the turn of the 21st century, it is widespread throughout the

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...

, with documented practice on the

East East or Orient is one of the four cardinal directions or points of the compass. It is the opposite direction from west and is the direction from which the Sun rises on the Earth. Etymology As in other languages, the word is formed from the fa ...

and West Coasts and in the

Midwest The Midwestern United States, also referred to as the Midwest or the American Midwest, is one of four Census Bureau Region, census regions of the United States Census Bureau (also known as "Region 2"). It occupies the northern central part of ...

and

South South is one of the cardinal directions or Points of the compass, compass points. The direction is the opposite of north and is perpendicular to both east and west. Etymology The word ''south'' comes from Old English ''sūþ'', from earlier Pro ...

, largely in college and youth communities.

Rules and play

Playable by three (and to some extent two) or more players, the game involves the participants (if numerous, then seated in a circle) "passing" the word ''zip'' to the person on their right with their lips curled in over their teeth. The person to one's right must do the same, and so on. If any participant wishes to change the flow of the passage, he or she must say the word ''bong'' instead of ''zip'', reverting the game's direction. The word ''bong'' performs one of two functions, depending on how the game is played. The first (and probably more common) function simply uses ''bong'' to switch the game's direction. The second has ''zip'' stand for a

clockwise Two-dimensional rotation can occur in two possible directions. Clockwise motion (abbreviated CW) proceeds in the same direction as a clock's hands: from the top to the right, then down and then to the left, and back up to the top. The opposite ...

flow and ''bong'' stand for a

counterclockwise Two-dimensional rotation can occur in two possible directions. Clockwise motion (abbreviated CW) proceeds in the same direction as a clock's hands: from the top to the right, then down and then to the left, and back up to the top. The opposite ...

flow, thus giving both the words ''zip'' and ''bong'' the power to revert the flow. In either case, use of the words can result in an effective restricting of the game between two players until one chooses not to revert the flow. The object of the zip and bong is to stay in play. This is accomplished by never showing one's teeth and by not missing one's turn (which is potentially difficult in small groups who make use of the word reversion). The game can be difficult because the absurdity of its play easily causes laughter, which can lead to exposure of the teeth.

References

{{reflist Children's games Party games