If you’ve ever wandered into a bingo hall, you know that bingo calls are part of the fun. Bingo callers have traditionally used nicknames to announce the numbers on the board by attaching short rhymes like “5 and 9 Brighton line.” The players join in by repeating the clever calls. The regulars know these by heart but still burst out laughing when some of them are called.
Throughout bingo’s rich history, the numbers were linked to various phrases, including funny rhymes. Others are far less creative. For instance, 12 is a dozen, and 24 is two dozen. Meanwhile, younger generations put their stamp on the game by introducing lines from pop culture. We’ve compiled a list of all the traditional and modern phrases, as well as the history of these calls. These are some of the basics you need to know before you head to a bingo hall or fire up the game on one of the popular bingo sites.
The Origin of Bingo Number Names
The game of bingo already has a very rich history, but what about naming the numbers? When did that happen? Like the game itself, the calls we hear today are quite old, and many date back to the days of the Second World War. Turns out, Allied soldiers kept their spirits high by playing a lot of bingo in between battles. At the time, the game was called Housey Housey, but the rules were similar to the game we play today.
Surprisingly, up until that time, the players didn’t use any bingo nicknames for the numbers drawn. The soldiers then started naming each number or shouting funny and often dirty phrases whenever the host announced a new number. A lot of the names stuck and are still being used in bingo halls across the country. Most calls are little more than simple rhymes, but some mock the appearance of certain numbers. Others are references to popular TV and radio shows, everyday life in the UK, as well as British politics and traditions.
The Complete List of Bingo Calls
When you go to a bingo night, you’ll most likely hear both the hosts and the audience shout out these phrases. They’re not just saying them randomly. Every single number, from 1 to 90, has a nickname. Of course, the calls changed over time, but some are just mainstays for bingo halls in the UK.
Here’s the complete list of calls. Of course, some of the rhymes are more discernible than others, which is why we’ve provided explanations for a few of the references. Perhaps unsurprisingly, there aren’t as many dirty bingo calls as there were back in the 1950s, except one that probably doesn’t need any further introduction.
1 – Kelly’s eye – This is widely believed to be a reference to Australian outlaw Ned Kelly.
2 – One little duck – The number resembles a ducking, and players will usually respond by quacking.
3 – Cup of tea
4 – Knock at the door
5 – Man alive
6 – Half a dozen
7 – Lucky seven
8 – Garden gate
9 – Doctor’s orders – Number 9 was the name of a powerful laxative given to British troops during World War II.
10 – [Prime Minister’s name]’s den – A reference to 10 Downing Street, which houses the official residence and office of Britain’s premier.
11 – Legs eleven – One of many funny bingo calls that refers to a pair of slender legs.
12 – One dozen
13 – Unlucky for some
14 – Valentine’s Day
15 – Young and keen
16 – Sweet 16
17 – Dancing queen
18 – Coming of age
19 – Goodbye teens
20 – One score – A reference to 20 units in one score.
21 – Royal salute/Key of the door – Players either reference the 21-gun salute or the traditional age when young people move out of their parents’ house.
22 – Two little ducks
23 – Thee and me
24 – Two dozen
25 – Duck and dive
26 – Pick and mix
27 – Gateway to heaven/Duck and a crutch – While the first of these is one of the more obvious bingo rhymes, the second is a visual reference. In addition to the aforementioned number two, the number seven is thought to resemble a crutch.
28 – In a state/Overweight
29 – Rise and shine
30 – Dirty Gertie – A reference to the La Delivrance statute in North London, which was nicknamed Gertrude.
31 – Get up and run
32 – Buckle my shoe
33 – Dirty knee/All the threes/Fish, chips & peas
34 – Ask for more
35 – Jump and jive – A reference to the jive dance style, which was born in African-American communities in the 1930s.
36 – Three dozen
37 – More than eleven
38 – Christmas cake
39 – 39 steps – One of the more traditional bingo calls, referencing the famous Alfred Hitchco*ck movie of the same name.
40 – Life begins – Derives from the saying “life begins at forty.”
41 – Time for fun
42 – Winnie the Pooh
43 – Down on your knees – A widely used military phrase in wartime Britain.
44 – Droopy drawers – A visual reference to saggy trousers.
45 – Halfway there – Halfway to 90.
46 – Up to tricks
47 – Four and seven
48 – Four dozen
49 – PC – A reference to a popular BBC Radio series, “The Adventures of PC 49.”
50 – Half a century
51 – Tweak of the thumb
52 – Danny La Rue – This is one of the more interesting bingo number sayings and refers to a popular Irish cross-dressing singer.
53 – Here comes Herbie/Stuck in a tree
54 – Clean the floor
55 – Snakes alive
56 – Shotts Bus – This was the number of the bus that covered the Glasgow-Shotts route.
57 – Heinz varieties – Refers to the “57 varieties” slogan that appears on Heinz ketchup bottles.
58 – Make them wait
59 – Brighton line – This is widely believed to be one of many bingo number calls referencing public transportation. Engine 59 ran between Brighton and London.
60 – Five dozen
61 – Baker’s bun
62 – Turn the screw/Tickety-boo
63 – Tickle me
64 – Red raw
65 – Old age pension – The former male age of mandatory retirement
66 – Clickety click
67 – Stairway to heaven
68 – Saving Grace
69 – A favourite of mine – A reference to the 69 sex position
70 – Three score and ten
71 – Bang on the drum
72 – Six dozen
73 – Queen bee
74 – Hit the floor
75 – Strive and strive
76 – Trombones – Among the many bingo calls in the UK, this one references the Marching Man musical and its popular marching song, “76 Trombones.”
77 – Sunset strip – 77 Sunset Strip was the name of a 1960s detective drama series.
78 – 39 more steps
79 – One more time
80 – Eight and blank
81 – Stop and run
82 – Straight on through
83 – Time for tea
84 – Seven dozen
85 – Staying alive
86 – Between the sticks
87 – Torquay in Devon
88 – Two fat ladies – This is another visual reference to two plus-sized ladies standing side by side. But these rude bingo calls are slowly being killed off in chat rooms by Millenials.
89 – Nearly there
90 – Top of the shop – This is the highest bingo number. Bingo players often say “shop” instead of “bingo game.”
Now that you’re well versed in bingo lingo, it’s time to move on to the next step. To become a master of the game, you need to know more than just the traditional calls. You’ll also need to keep up with the latest trends. To make sure you don’t fall behind your fellow bingo players, we’ve compiled an additional list.
Modern Bingo Calls
Like the game itself, lingo has evolved over time. What used to be hip back in the day is not something that younger generations can relate to. Therefore, some rhymes had to be modernized, or bingo players simply made new phrases and rhymes more common. Most of the traditional calls managed to stand the test of time, while others came and went in the blink of an eye. Some argue that bingo players kept dishing out too many jokes for rhymes, trying to create alternative bingo calls at any cost. This is true to some extent.
Here are some of the jokes, puns, and rhymes you’ll hear in bingo halls:
1 – Little Jimmy
2 – Doctor Who
3 – I’m free
4 – Bobby Moore
6 – Little Mix
7 – David Beckham
8 – Tinder date
9 – Selfie Time
11 – Eyebrows on fleek
15 – Dancing queen
22 – Tay Tay
24 – Lads on tour
25 – Adele
27 – Hipster heaven
32 – Jimmy Choo
48 – Tag a mate
49 – Amazon Prime
64 – The Beatles
66 – US route
88 – Will and Kate
BestBingoUK’s New Bingo Calls
Of course, we at BestBingoUK had to name some of the bingo numbers ourselves. So, brace yourself. Here come the puns! Don’t say we didn’t warn you.
9 – Brunch would be fine
28 – Fat lady’s duck
34 – Lock the door
42 – Vogons can come, too (Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy reference)
50 – In da club with me
57 – Friday in heaven
69 – Wine and dine
74 – Recycle more
81 – Fought the law and law won
84 – Kiss me more
