Bingo Calls Nicknames

Comprehensive list of all nicknames used as bingo calls. Some are funny, some simply rhyme with the number, and others are cultural references.

A bingo call is an announcement that a Bingo caller makes when picking a number at random. To avoid confusion between similar-sounding numbers (like 13 and 30), a bingo announcer will announce the number's nickname along with the number itself.

For those who are new to bingo halls and live online bingo, these nicknames may sound odd. However, these bingo call nicknames all have a , either because they rhyme with the number or because it is a cultural reference.

Number	Nickname	Explanation
1	Kelly's eye	The pun is military slang; 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	Rhyming with "three".
4	Knock at the door	Rhyming with "four".
5	Man alive	Rhyming with "five".
6	Half a dozen	A common phrase meaning six units (see "12" below).
6	Tom Mix	Cockney rhyming slang for number 6.
7	Lucky	7 is considered a lucky number in some cultures.
8	Garden gate	Rhyming with "eight".
9	Brighton line	A reference to the British railway line running from London Victoria and London Bridge to Brighton.
9	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. 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	Rhyming with "fifteen".
16	Never been kissed	After the song Sweet Sixteen and Never Been Kissed.
16	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.
21	Royal salute	Named after the traditional 21-gun salute.
22	Two little ducks	The numeral 22 resembles the profile of two ducks. Response is often "quack, quack, quack".
23	The Lord is My Shepherd	The first words of Psalm 23 of the Old Testament.
23	Thee and me	Rhyming with "(twenty) three".
24	Two dozen	12 × 2 = 24. Refer to 12 above.
25	Duck and dive	Rhyming 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.
26	Pick and mix	Rhyming 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.
27	Gateway to Heaven	Rhyming with "(twenty) seven"
28	In a state.	"Two and eight" is rhyming slang for "state".
28	Overweight	Rhyming with "(twenty) eight".
29	Rise and shine	Rhyming with "(twenty) nine".
30	Dirty Gertie	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.
31	Get up and run	Rhyming with "(thirty) one".
32	Buckle my shoe	Rhyming with "(thirty) two".
33	Dirty knee	Rhyming with "(thirty) three".
34	Ask for more	Rhyming with "(thirty) four".
35	Jump and jive	A dance step.
36	Three dozen	3 × 12 = 36. Refer to 12 above
37	More than 11	Rhyming 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'.
40	Naughty 40	Possibly in reference to the Naughty Forty.
41	Time for fun	Rhymes
42	Winnie the Pooh	Rhyming 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	Rhyme that refers to sagging trousers.[citation needed]
45	Halfway there	Being halfway towards 90.
46	Up to tricks	Rhyming 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.
50	5 - 0, 5 - 0, it's off to work we go	Referring to Snow White.
50	Half a century	Referring to 50 being half of 100.
51	Tweak of the thumb	Rhyming with "(fifty) one".
52	Danny La Rue	A reference to drag entertainer Danny La Rue. Also used for other numbers ending in '2' (see '72' below).
52	Chicken vindaloo	Introduced by Butlins in 2003.
52	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!"
53	Stuck in the tree	Rhyming with "(fifty) three".
54	Man at the door	Rhyming with "(fifty) four".
54	Clean the floor	Rhyming with "(fifty) four".
55	All the fives	Rhyming with "(fifty) five".
55	Snakes alive	Rhyming with "(fifty) five".
56	Shotts bus	Refers to the former number of the bus from Glasgow to Shotts.
56	Was she worth it?	This refers to the pre-decimal price of a marriage licence in Britain, 5/6♦. The players shout back "Every Penny!"
57	Heinz varieties	Refers to "Heinz 57", the "57 Varieties" slogan of the H. J. Heinz Company.
58	Make them wait	Rhyming 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	Rhyming with "sixty".
60	Five dozen	5 × 12 = 60. Refer to 12 above.
61	Bakers bun	Rhyming with "(sixty) one".
62	Tickety-boo	Rhyming with "(sixty) two".
62	Turn the screw	Rhyming with "(sixty) two".
63	Tickle me	Rhyming with "(sixty) three".
64	Almost retired	A reference to the former British male age of mandatory retirement - specifically being one year away from it.
64	Red raw	Rhyming with "(sixty) four".
65	Retirement age, Stop work	A reference to the former male British age of mandatory retirement.
65	Old age pension	A reference to the former male British age of mandatory retirement.
66	Clickety click	Rhyming with "(sixty) six".
67	Stairway to Heaven	Coined by Andrew "CIP" Lavelle.
67	Made in Heaven	Rhyming with "(sixty) seven".
68	Pick a mate	Coined by Edward James Mackey II.
68	Saving grace	Rhyming with "(sixty) eight".
69	Anyway up	A reference to the 69 sex position.
69	Either way up	A reference to the 69 sex position.
69	Meal for two	A reference to the 69 sex position.
69	A favourite of mine	A reference to the 69 sex position.
70	Three score and 10	A score is a way of counting in 20s in which one score is 20. 20 * 3 = 60 + 10 = 70. Three score and ten years is the span of life according to the Bible.
71	Bang on the drum	Rhyming with "(seventy) one".
71	J.Lo's bum	Rhyming with "(seventy) one".
72	Danny La Rue	Rhyming with "(seventy) two"
72	Six dozen	6 × 12 = 72. Refer to 12 above.
73	Queen bee	Rhyming with "(seventy) three".
73	Under the tree	Rhyming with "(seventy) three".
73	Lucky 3	Rhyming with "(seventy) three".
74	Hit the floor	Coined by Ann Fitzsimons.
74	Candy store	Rhyming with "(seventy) four".
75	Strive and strive	Rhyming with "(seventy) five".
76	Trombones	"Seventy-Six Trombones" is a popular marching song, from the musical The Music Man.
77	Two little crutches	The number 77 resembles 2 little "Crutches".
77	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.
78	Heaven's gate	Rhyming with "(seventy) eight".
79	One more time	Rhyming with "(seventy) nine".
80	Gandhi's breakfast	"Ate nothing".
80	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.
81	Stop and run	Rhyming with "(eighty) one".
82	Straight on through	Rhyming with "(eighty) two".
83	Time for tea	Rhymes and scans
84	Give me more	Rhymes and scans.
85	Staying alive	Rhyming with "(eighty) five".
86	Between the sticks	Rhyming with "(eighty) six". Refers to the position of goalkeeper in football.
87	Torquay in Devon	Rhyming 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	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" is also used at times.
90	Top of the shop	90 is the highest (top) number in bingo. Shop refers to the entire game of bingo (and also rhymes with "top").

List of bingo calls and their nicknames.

Most bingo calls and their nicknames are from British culture. The Brits really have a local culture of playing bingos, sometimes every week. Some numbers have multiple nicknames so it's a matter of getting used to hearing them often to memorise them all. Bingo is a game full of slang so we hope this helped you out.