There are 21 guns fired in a royal or military salute. 21 was also the traditional age where you’d move out of your parents’ house and have your own keys to your own place. 22 – Two little ducks Again, this call exists to describe the shape that the numbers make. 23 – The Lord is my shepherd. This is a list of British bingo nicknames.In the game of bingo in the United Kingdom, callers announcing the numbers have traditionally used some nicknames to refer to particular numbers if they are drawn. The nicknames are sometimes known by the rhyming phrase 'bingo lingo' and there are rhymes for each number from 1 to 90, some of which date back many decades. 21 - Royal Salute: It refers to the 21-gun salute presented at the royal and military ceremonies in the UK. 30 - Dirty Gertie: Taken from a humorous song - “Dirty Gertie From Bizerte,” by World War II soldiers. 49 - PC: This bingo calling got picked from the wartime radio show named “The Adventures of P.C. It aired from 1946–53.
This is a list of British bingo nicknames. In the game of bingo in the United Kingdom, callers announcing the numbers have traditionally used some nicknames to refer to particular numbers if they are drawn. The nicknames are sometimes known by the rhyming phrase 'bingo lingo' and there are rhymes for each number from 1 to 90, some of which date back many decades. In some clubs, the 'bingo caller' will say the number, with the assembled players intoning the rhyme in a call and response manner, in others, the caller will say the rhyme and the players chant the number. In 2003, Butlins holiday camps introduced some more modern calls devised by a Professor of Popular Culture in an attempt to bring fresh interest to bingo.[1][2]
Number | Nickname | Explanation |
---|---|---|
1 | Kelly’s eye[3] | The pun is military slang;[4] possibly a reference to Ned Kelly, from Ned Kelly's helmet, the eye slot resembling the number 1. Also after the Valiant comic strip 'Kelly's Eye' where the eponymous Kelly possessed a magic amulet. |
2 | One little duck. | From the resemblance of the number 2 to a duck; see also '22'. Response is a single 'quack.' |
3 | Cup of tea | Rhymes with 'three'. |
4 | Knock at the door | Rhymes with 'four'. |
5 | Man alive[3] | Rhymes with 'five'. |
6 | Half a dozen[5] | A common phrase meaning six units (see '12' below). |
Tom Mix | Cockney rhyming slang for number 6[6] | |
7 | Lucky [3] | 7 is considered a lucky number in some cultures. |
8 | Garden gate[5] | Rhymes with 'eight'. |
9 | Brighton line[5][7] | A reference to the British railway line running from London Victoria and London Bridge to Brighton. |
Doctor's orders | Number 9 was a laxative pill given out by army doctors in WWII. | |
10 | (Current Prime Minister of the United Kingdom) Boris’s den. | The name refers to 10 Downing Street the home of the UK Prime Minister. |
11 | Legs eleven | A reference to the shape of the number resembling a pair of legs, often chicken legs specifically.[8] The players often wolf whistle in response. |
12 | One dozen | A reference to there being 12 units in one dozen. |
13 | Unlucky for some | A reference to 13 being an unlucky number. |
14 | Valentine's Day | A reference to 14 February being St. Valentine's Day. |
15 | Young and keen | Rhymes with 'fifteen'. |
16 | Never been kissed[2] | After the song Sweet Sixteen and Never Been Kissed |
Sweet 16 | Refers to the US and Canadian celebrations of a Sweet sixteen birthday. | |
17 | Dancing Queen | ABBA's song Dancing Queen has the number mentioned in the lyrics. |
18 | Coming of age | Eighteen is the age of majority in the UK. |
19 | Goodbye teens | Nineteen is the age after which people stop being teenagers. |
20 | One score | A reference to there being 20 units in one score. |
21 | Key of the door | The traditional age of majority. |
Royal salute | Named after the traditional 21-gun salute. | |
22 | Two little ducks | The numeral 22 resembles the profile of two ducks.[8] Response is often 'quack, quack, quack'. |
23 | The Lord is My Shepherd | The first words of Psalm 23 of the Old Testament. |
Thee and me[3] | Rhymes with '(twenty) three'. | |
24 | Two dozen | 12 × 2 = 24. Refer to 12 above. |
25 | Duck and dive | Rhymes with '(twenty) five', and is made up of a '2' – resembles a duck, and a '5' – resembles an upside-down '2'. |
26 | Half a crown | Pre-decimalised currency in the UK. (See half crown). A half crown is equivalent to 2 shillings sixpence, written 2/6. |
Pick and mix | Rhymes with '(twenty) six' | |
27 | Duck and a crutch. | The number 2 looks like a duck (see '2') and the number 7 looks like a crutch. |
Gateway to Heaven | Rhymes with '(twenty) seven' | |
28 | In a state. | 'Two and eight' is rhyming slang for 'state'. |
Overweight | Rhymes with '(twenty) eight'. | |
29 | Rise and shine | Rhymes with '(twenty) nine'. |
30 | Dirty Gertie[1] | Common rhyme derived from the given name Gertrude, used as a nickname for the statue La Delivrance installed in North London in 1927. The usage was reinforced by Dirty Gertie from Bizerte, a bawdy song sung by Allied soldiers in North Africa during the Second World War.[9] |
31 | Get up and run[1] | Rhymes with '(thirty) one'. |
32 | Buckle my shoe | Rhymes with '(thirty) two'. |
33 | Dirty knee | Rhymes with '(thirty) three'. |
34 | Ask for more | Rhymes with '(thirty) four'. |
35 | Jump and jive[2] | A dance step. |
36 | Three dozen | 3 × 12 = 36. Refer to 12 above |
37 | More than 11 | Rhymes with '(thirty) seven'. |
38 | Christmas cake | Cockney rhyming slang. |
39 | Steps | From the 39 Steps |
40 | Life begins | Refers to the proverb 'life begins at forty'. |
Naughty 40 | Possibly in reference to the Naughty Forty. | |
41 | Time for fun | Rhymes |
42 | Winnie the Pooh | Rhymes with '(forty) two' and in reference to Winnie-the-Pooh, a beloved UK children's book character. |
43 | Down on your knees | This was a phrase that was made popular during wartime by soldiers. |
44 | Droopy drawers[7] | Rhyme that refers to sagging trousers.[citation needed] |
45 | Halfway there | Being halfway towards 90. |
46 | Up to tricks | Rhymes with '(forty) six'. |
47 | Four and seven | Refers to the two numbers that make up 47, that being 4 and 7. |
48 | Four dozen | 4 × 12 = 48. Refer to 12 above. |
49 | PC | Refers to the BBC Radio series 'The Adventures of PC 49'. Usual response is 'Evening all'. |
50 | It's a bullseye! | Referring to the darts score. |
5 – 0, 5 – 0, it's off to work we go | Referring to Snow White. | |
Half a century | Referring to 50 being half of 100. | |
51 | Tweak of the thumb | Rhymes with '(fifty) one'. |
52 | Danny La Rue[10] | A reference to drag entertainer Danny La Rue. Also used for other numbers ending in '2' (see '72' below). |
Chicken vindaloo[1] | Introduced by Butlins in 2003.[1] | |
Deck of cards | Number of cards in a deck. | |
53 | Here comes Herbie! | 53 is the racing number of Herbie the VW Beetle. Players may reply 'beep beep!' |
Stuck in the tree | Rhymes with '(fifty) three'. | |
54 | Man at the door | Rhymes with '(fifty) four'. |
Clean the floor | Rhymes with '(fifty) four'. | |
55 | All the fives[5] | Rhymes with '(fifty) five'. |
Snakes alive | Rhymes with '(fifty) five'. | |
56 | Shotts bus[5] | Refers to the former number of the bus from Glasgow to Shotts. |
Was she worth it? | This refers to the pre-decimal price of a marriage licence in Britain, 5/6d. The players shout back 'Every Penny!' | |
57 | Heinz varieties[5] | Refers to 'Heinz 57', the '57 Varieties' slogan of the H. J. Heinz Company. |
58 | Make them wait | Rhymes with '(fifty) eight'. Here the announcer would pause, making the audience wait. |
59 | Brighton line | Quote from The Importance of Being Earnest referencing trains 59 in turn references the number 59 bus running between Brighton and Shoreham-by-Sea. |
60 | Grandma's getting frisky | Rhymes with 'sixty'. |
Five dozen | 5 × 12 = 60. Refer to 12 above. | |
61 | Bakers bun | Rhymes with '(sixty) one'. |
62 | Tickety-boo | Rhymes with '(sixty) two'. |
Turn the screw | ||
63 | Tickle me | Rhymes with '(sixty) three'. |
64 | Almost retired | A reference to the former British male age of mandatory retirement – specifically being one year away from it. |
Red raw | Rhymes with '(sixty) four'. | |
65 | Retirement age, Stop work[2] | A reference to the former male British age of mandatory retirement. |
Old age pension | ||
66 | Clickety click[7] | Rhymes with '(sixty) six'. |
67 | Stairway to Heaven | Coined by Andrew 'CIP' Lavelle. |
Made in Heaven[3] | Rhymes with '(sixty) seven'. | |
68 | Pick a mate | Coined by Edward James Mackey II. |
Saving grace | Rhymes with '(sixty) eight'. | |
69 | Anyway up | A reference to the 69 sex position. |
Either way up | ||
Meal for two | ||
A favourite of mine[2] | ||
70 | Three score and 10 | A score is a way of counting in 20s in which one score is 20.[11] 20 * 3 = 60 + 10 = 70. Three score and ten years is the span of life according to the Bible.[12] |
71 | Bang on the drum[2] | Rhymes with '(seventy) one'. |
J.Lo's bum[2] | ||
72 | Danny La Rue[2] | Rhymes with '(seventy) two' |
Six dozen | 6 × 12 = 72. Refer to 12 above. | |
73 | Queen bee | Rhymes with '(seventy) three'. |
Under the tree. | ||
Lucky 3[13] | ||
74 | Hit the floor | Coined by Ann Fitzsimons. |
Candy store | Rhymes with '(seventy) four'. | |
75 | Strive and strive[14] | Rhymes with '(seventy) five'. |
76 | Trombones[15] | 'Seventy-Six Trombones' is a popular marching song, from the musical The Music Man. |
77 | Two little crutches[15] | The number 77 resembles 2 little 'Crutches'. |
Sunset Strip | From the 1960s television series '77 Sunset Strip'. Usually sung by the players. | |
78 | 39 more steps | 39 + 39 = 78. Refer to 39 being '39 steps' above. |
Heaven's gate | Rhymes with '(seventy) eight'. | |
79 | One more time | Rhymes with '(seventy) nine'. |
80 | Gandhi's breakfast | 'Ate nothing'. |
Eight and blank | Refers to 80 being made up of 8 and 0 (nothing). | |
81 | Fat lady with a walking stick | The number 8 is supposed to visually resemble a lady with ample bosom and hips, while the number 1 is supposed to visually resemble a walking stick. |
Stop and run | Rhymes with '(eighty) one'. | |
82 | Straight on through | Rhymes with '(eighty) two'. |
83 | Time for tea | Rhymes and scans[14] |
84 | Give me more | Rhymes and scans. |
85 | Staying alive[16] | Rhymes with '(eighty) five'. |
86 | Between the sticks | Rhymes with '(eighty) six'. Refers to the position of goalkeeper in football. |
87 | Torquay in Devon | Rhymes with '(Eighty) Seven'. Torquay which is in the county of Devon, rather than one of several other Torquays which were elsewhere in the British Empire. |
88 | Two fat ladies[17] | The number 88 visually resembles a lady next to another lady. Refer to 81 above. Players can reply with 'wobble, wobble!' |
89 | Nearly there | 89 is one away from 90 (the end of the bingo numbers). |
Almost there | ||
90 | Top of the shop[5] | 90 is the highest (top) number in bingo. Shop refers to the entire game of bingo (and also rhymes with 'top'). |
Have you ever wondered why your bingo callershouts “two fat ladies“? Or “doctor’s orders“? Or “two little ducks“? Who was “Tom Mix” and “Burlington Bertie”. Where did this bingo lingo originate? (Please note that here we discuss bingo call origins – not the ‘bingo lingo’ referring to abbreviations etc used in bingo chat rooms).
The truth is that while most of these bingo terms are known, some others are a little unclear. Take a look at “Kelly’s eye” for instance. Different sources may even given a different meaning to the same call.
Certainly the military is responsible for many of the calls – all the army divisions for example. Plus “Doctor’s orders“, “6 & 2 to Waterloo” etc. This is no surprise considering that bingo began as a gambling game popular in the early Army and Navy. Which will seem strange to those people today who still believe that its’ a game for little old ladies!
The list below gives you as much information as we currently have regarding bingo calling origins. Please let us know if you have further / differing info!
1 Kelly’s eye – All sources suggest it is military slang. It may originate from the outlaw Ned Kelly. Or the music hall song “Has Anybody Here Seen Kelly?” But neither have anything to do with only one eye.
6 Tom Mix – a cowboy film star from the silent movie era.
8Harry Tate – a music hall comedian and early film star.
9 doctor’s orders / doctor’s joy – number 9 was a laxative pill issued in the army and navy. Supposedly because 9pm was the latest time in the day when a doctor could be seen.
10 Theresa’s den – changes depending upon the Prime Minister at the time. So has variously been Maggie’s den, Tony’s den etc.
11 legs – looking like a pair of legs.
14 the lawnmower – early lawnmowers had a 14 inch blade.
17 dancing queen – “You are the dancing queen, young and sweet, only seventeen” – ABBA.
17 old Ireland – could be because St Patrick’s Day is on March 17th. But more likely to be that when Ireland was all one country it was made up of 17 counties.
21 royal salute – referring to a 21 gun salute.
22 two little ducks – the number 2 looks like a duck.
22 dinkie-doo – a dated term for a concert party.
23 The Lord is My Shepherd – the first line of psalm 23.
24 Pompey whore – Sailors nickname for Portsmouth. And who would they go and see as soon as they docked?
26 half a crown / bed and breakfast – both refer to the 2/6 of old money – supposedly the price of one night’s B&B at one time.
28 in a state – ‘two and eight’ is cockney rhyming slang for ‘in a state’.
28 The Old Braggs – the 28th Foot The North Gloucestershire Army Regiment.
30 Dirty Gertie – a 1946 film.
30 Burlington Bertie – a popular music hall song from the early 1900s.
33 Sherwood Forrest – say ‘all the threes’ in an Irish accent…..
39 steps – from the John Buchan novel & Alfred Hitchcock film “The Thirty Nine Steps”.
39 Jack Benny – an American comedian who was big in the 1950s and 60s. His ‘running gag’ was that he was 39 years old.
42 the street in Manhattan – ’42nd Street’ was a 1933 film.
44 droopy drawers – looks like a pair of drawers half way down.
44 Aldershot Ladies – a military term – originally ‘Aldershot whores’. But was cleaned up a little …….
45 cowboy’s friend – a Colt 45 revolver.
49 PC – a 1940s / 50s radio show about Police Constable Archibald Berkeley-Willoughby – P.C. 49.
50 Hawaii five oh – an American 70s police drama.
50 Snow White’s number – “five ohhh five ohhh its off to work we go…..”
51 The Highland Div – the 51st Army Division.
52 The Lowland Div – the 52nd Army Division.
52 Danny La Rue – a 60s / 70s drag artist.
53 here comes Herbie – The number on the bonnet of the Walt Disney car.
53 The Welsh Div – the 53rd Army Division.
54 house with a bamboo door –“Number fifty-four, the house with the bamboo door” – Earl Grant.
56 Shotts bus – the number 56 bus went from Glasgow to Shotts.
56 was she worth it? – 5/6 was supposedly once the price of a marriage licence (the same story goes for 7/6).
57 Heinz varieties – ‘Heinz 57 varieties’ is the famous company slogan.
58 choo choo Thomas – we all recognise Thomas the Tank Engine as being no. 1 engine. But it would seem he has had a few number changes throughout his career – no. 58 being one of them at some point in the late 1950s. (thanks to Eugene Rittgers for his help in discovering this ….)
59 the Brighton Line – refers to the London to Brighton bus service. Was either a 59 bus or cost 5/9.
62 tickety-boo – an army phrase. possibly originating from the Hindi “tickee babu” meaning “everything’s alright sir”.
62 turn of the screw – a Henry James ghost story.
62 to Waterloo – a Naval term. Not referring to the battle but to the cost – 6/2 – of a the fare from Portsmouth to Waterloo station.
64 The Beatle’s number –“Will you still need me, will you still feed me, when I’m sixty-four?” – The Beatles.
67 the argumentative number – from the phrase “at sixes and sevens” meaning to be in a state of confusion.
68 saving grace – unknown. Another example of bingo lingo with obscure origins.
72 par for the course – the typical par for a championship golf course.
75 Big Daddy – in American bingo the numbers go from 1 – 75. So this is the highest on the card. But taken on in Britain because of the name of the 70s wrestler.
76 was she worth it? – 7/6 was supposedly once the price of a marriage licence (the same story goes for 5/6).
76 trombones – “Seventy-six trombones led the big parade” – from ‘The Music Man’.
77 Sunset Strip – an American TV show from the 50s/60s.
80 Gandhi’s breakfast – because when fasting Gandhi ‘ate nothing’ / ‘eight nothing’. Also the number looks like someone sitting cross legged by an empty plate from above.
83 Ethel’s ear – the original fat lady who played bingo – now lost to legend. She supposedly had large ears!
86 between the sticks – a common reference at one time for a goalkeeper standing between the goal posts.
88 two fat ladies – looking like two ‘wobbly’ fat ladies.
88 Connaught Rangers – the 88th Army Regiment of Foot.
bingo lingo – general number ‘look-a-likes’.
2 looks like a duck or swan.
3 looks like a flea (or at least rhymes with it!).
5 looks like a snake.
7 looks like a crutch.
8 looks like a fat lady. And yes …. a pair look like two fat ladies …….
So although the history of bingo is lost in the mists of time, the origin of most of these traditional bingo calls are known (or guessed!).