With the chance to win prizes, the anticipation of waiting to hear your numbers being called, and the usually eccentric caller, a game of bingo sites not registered with Gamstop is sure to be a fun-filled affair
And this applies whether you enjoy playing Bingo online, and know all the lingo to use in the chatroom, or you like to visit your local Bingo Hall for a classic game.
But there’s one thing you should always know when it comes to Bingo — the funny and quirky nicknames for the numbers called. And it’s even better, when you can stun your friends with the knowledge and reasons behind some of the most famous and humorous Bingo calls.
So, let’s run through some of our favourites.
Number 2 — one little duck
This name is a clear example of a Bingo call which references the shape of the number. The number two resembles that of a duck, so naturally is called ‘one little duck’ in the game. It comes as no surprise then, that 22 is named – you guessed it – ‘two little ducks’.
Other numbers which follow suit are ‘legs eleven’ which refers to the shape of the number 11, and ‘two fat ladies’ — the famous call for the number 88.
Number 3 — cup of tea
Most Bingo calls use clever rhymes as a nickname for the number. And it doesn’t get more British than a cup of tea — the perfect rhyme for three. Other rhymes can be cheery such as ‘29 – rise and shine’, or use old cockney slang, like ‘in a state’ for number 28.
Number 7 — lucky seven
The number seven has a long history in the world of casino, featuring often in slot machines. But the reason it’s called ‘lucky’ in a game of Bingo, refers to the fact it’s considered as such in many cultures across the globe.
We see it recur often in our day-to-day lives, with seven colours in the rainbow and seven days a week, and this alludes to the idea of its lucky nature.
13, on the other hand, is consider unlucky in many myths and legends, and so is named accordingly in Bingo.
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There are more weird and wacky reasons behind the nicknames for Bingo numbers — too many to go through each one.
But, as promised, here’s the rundown of all the Bingo calls you can expect to hear in a game, from one to 90:
- 1 — Kelly’s eye
- 2 — One little duck
- 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
- 10 — Current Prime Minister’s den (as of 2022, this would be Bori’s den).
- 11 — Legs eleven
- 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
- 21 — Key of the door
- 22 — Two little ducks
- 23 — Thee and me
- 24 — Two dozen
- 25 — Duck and dive
- 26 — Pick and mix
- 27 — Gateway to Heaven
- 28 — In a state
- 29 — Rise and shine
- 30 — Dirty Gertie
- 31 — Get up and run
- 32 — Buckle my shoe
- 33 — All the threes
- 34 — Ask for more
- 35 — Jump and jive
- 36 — Three dozen
- 37 — More than 11
- 38 — Christmas cake
- 39 — 39Steps
- 40 — Life begins
- 41 — Time for fun
- 42 — Winnie the Pooh
- 43 — Down on your knees
- 44 — Droopy drawers
- 45 — Halfway there
- 46 — Up to tricks
- 47 — Four and seven
- 48 — Four dozen
- 49 — PC
- 50 — Half a century
- 51 — Tweak of the thumb
- 52 — Danny La Rue
- 53 — Stuck in the tree
- 54 — Clean the floor
- 55 — Snakes alive
- 56 — Shotts bus
- 57 — Heinz varieties
- 58 — Make them wait
- 59 — Brighton line
- 60 — Five dozen
- 61 — Baker’s bun
- 62 — Tickety-boo
- 63 — Tickle me
- 64 — Red raw
- 65 — Old age pension
- 66 — Clickety click
- 67 —Stairway to Heaven
- 68 — Saving grace
- 69 — A favourite of mine
- 70 — Three score and 10
- 71 — Bang on the drum
- 72 — Six dozen
- 73 — Queen bee
- 74 — Hit the floor
- 75 — Strive and strive
- 76 — Trombones
- 77 — Sunset Strip
- 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
- 89 — Nearly there
- 90 — Top of the shop