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.

NumberNicknameExplanation
1Kelly's eyeThe 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.
2One little duck.From the resemblance of the number 2 to a duck; see also "22". Response is a single "quack."
3Cup of teaRhyming with "three".
4Knock at the doorRhyming with "four".
5Man aliveRhyming with "five".
6Half a dozenA common phrase meaning six units (see "12" below).
6Tom MixCockney rhyming slang for number 6.
7Lucky 7 is considered a lucky number in some cultures.
8Garden gateRhyming with "eight".
9Brighton lineA reference to the British railway line running from London Victoria and London Bridge to Brighton.
9Doctor's ordersNumber 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.
11Legs elevenA reference to the shape of the number resembling a pair of legs, often chicken legs specifically. The players often wolf whistle in response.
12One dozenA reference to there being 12 units in one dozen.
13Unlucky for someA reference to 13 being an unlucky number.
14Valentine's DayA reference to 14 February being St. Valentine's Day.
15Young and keenRhyming with "fifteen".
16Never been kissedAfter the song Sweet Sixteen and Never Been Kissed.
16Sweet 16Refers to the US and Canadian celebrations of a Sweet sixteen birthday.
17Dancing QueenABBA's song Dancing Queen has the number mentioned in the lyrics.
18Coming of ageEighteen is the age of majority in the UK.
19Goodbye teensNineteen is the age after which people stop being teenagers.
20One scoreA reference to there being 20 units in one score.
21Key of the doorThe traditional age of majority.
21Royal saluteNamed after the traditional 21-gun salute.
22Two little ducksThe numeral 22 resembles the profile of two ducks. Response is often "quack, quack, quack".
23The Lord is My ShepherdThe first words of Psalm 23 of the Old Testament.
23Thee and meRhyming with "(twenty) three".
24Two dozen12 × 2 = 24. Refer to 12 above.
25Duck and diveRhyming with "(twenty) five", and is made up of a "2" - resembles a duck, and a "5" - resembles an upside-down "2".
26Half a crownPre-decimalised currency in the UK. (See half crown). A half crown is equivalent to 2 shillings sixpence, written 2/6.
26Pick and mixRhyming with "(twenty) six".
27Duck and a crutch.The number 2 looks like a duck (see '2') and the number 7 looks like a crutch.
27Gateway to HeavenRhyming with "(twenty) seven"
28In a state."Two and eight" is rhyming slang for "state".
28OverweightRhyming with "(twenty) eight".
29Rise and shineRhyming with "(twenty) nine".
30Dirty GertieCommon 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.
31Get up and runRhyming with "(thirty) one".
32Buckle my shoeRhyming with "(thirty) two".
33Dirty kneeRhyming with "(thirty) three".
34Ask for moreRhyming with "(thirty) four".
35Jump and jiveA dance step.
36Three dozen3 × 12 = 36. Refer to 12 above
37More than 11Rhyming with "(thirty) seven".
38Christmas cakeCockney rhyming slang.
39StepsFrom the 39 Steps
40Life beginsRefers to the proverb 'life begins at forty'.
40Naughty 40Possibly in reference to the Naughty Forty.
41Time for funRhymes
42Winnie the PoohRhyming with "(forty) two" and in reference to Winnie-the-Pooh, a beloved UK children's book character.
43Down on your kneesThis was a phrase that was made popular during wartime by soldiers.
44Droopy drawersRhyme that refers to sagging trousers.[citation needed]
45Halfway thereBeing halfway towards 90.
46Up to tricksRhyming with "(forty) six".
47Four and sevenRefers to the two numbers that make up 47, that being 4 and 7.
48Four dozen4 × 12 = 48. Refer to 12 above.
49PCRefers to the BBC Radio series "The Adventures of PC 49". Usual response is "Evening all".
50It's a bullseye!Referring to the darts score.
505 - 0, 5 - 0, it's off to work we goReferring to Snow White.
50Half a centuryReferring to 50 being half of 100.
51Tweak of the thumbRhyming with "(fifty) one".
52Danny La RueA reference to drag entertainer Danny La Rue. Also used for other numbers ending in '2' (see '72' below).
52Chicken vindalooIntroduced by Butlins in 2003.
52Deck of cardsNumber of cards in a deck.
53Here comes Herbie!53 is the racing number of Herbie the VW Beetle. Players may reply "beep beep!"
53Stuck in the treeRhyming with "(fifty) three".
54Man at the doorRhyming with "(fifty) four".
54Clean the floorRhyming with "(fifty) four".
55All the fivesRhyming with "(fifty) five".
55Snakes aliveRhyming with "(fifty) five".
56Shotts busRefers to the former number of the bus from Glasgow to Shotts.
56Was she worth it?This refers to the pre-decimal price of a marriage licence in Britain, 5/6. The players shout back "Every Penny!"
57Heinz varietiesRefers to "Heinz 57", the "57 Varieties" slogan of the H. J. Heinz Company.
58Make them waitRhyming with "(fifty) eight". Here the announcer would pause, making the audience wait.
59Brighton lineQuote from The Importance of Being Earnest referencing trains 59 in turn references the number 59 bus running between Brighton and Shoreham-by-Sea.
60Grandma's getting friskyRhyming with "sixty".
60Five dozen5 × 12 = 60. Refer to 12 above.
61Bakers bunRhyming with "(sixty) one".
62Tickety-booRhyming with "(sixty) two".
62Turn the screwRhyming with "(sixty) two".
63Tickle meRhyming with "(sixty) three".
64Almost retiredA reference to the former British male age of mandatory retirement - specifically being one year away from it.
64Red rawRhyming with "(sixty) four".
65Retirement age, Stop workA reference to the former male British age of mandatory retirement.
65Old age pensionA reference to the former male British age of mandatory retirement.
66Clickety clickRhyming with "(sixty) six".
67Stairway to HeavenCoined by Andrew "CIP" Lavelle.
67Made in HeavenRhyming with "(sixty) seven".
68Pick a mateCoined by Edward James Mackey II.
68Saving graceRhyming with "(sixty) eight".
69Anyway upA reference to the 69 sex position.
69Either way upA reference to the 69 sex position.
69Meal for twoA reference to the 69 sex position.
69A favourite of mineA reference to the 69 sex position.
70Three score and 10A 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.
71Bang on the drumRhyming with "(seventy) one".
71J.Lo's bumRhyming with "(seventy) one".
72Danny La RueRhyming with "(seventy) two"
72Six dozen6 × 12 = 72. Refer to 12 above.
73Queen beeRhyming with "(seventy) three".
73Under the treeRhyming with "(seventy) three".
73Lucky 3Rhyming with "(seventy) three".
74Hit the floorCoined by Ann Fitzsimons.
74Candy storeRhyming with "(seventy) four".
75Strive and striveRhyming with "(seventy) five".
76Trombones"Seventy-Six Trombones" is a popular marching song, from the musical The Music Man.
77Two little crutchesThe number 77 resembles 2 little "Crutches".
77Sunset StripFrom the 1960s television series "77 Sunset Strip". Usually sung by the players.
7839 more steps39 + 39 = 78. Refer to 39 being "39 steps" above.
78Heaven's gateRhyming with "(seventy) eight".
79One more timeRhyming with "(seventy) nine".
80Gandhi's breakfast"Ate nothing".
80Eight and blankRefers to 80 being made up of 8 and 0 (nothing).
81Fat lady with a walking stickThe 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.
81Stop and runRhyming with "(eighty) one".
82Straight on throughRhyming with "(eighty) two".
83Time for teaRhymes and scans
84Give me moreRhymes and scans.
85Staying aliveRhyming with "(eighty) five".
86Between the sticksRhyming with "(eighty) six". Refers to the position of goalkeeper in football.
87Torquay in DevonRhyming 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.
88Two fat ladiesThe number 88 visually resembles a lady next to another lady. Refer to 81 above. Players can reply with "wobble, wobble!"
89Nearly there89 is one away from 90 (the end of the bingo numbers). "Almost there" is also used at times.
90Top of the shop90 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.