Bingo Calls: A Guide to Bingo Number Names
Bingo calls have become an integral part of the game's social experience. Even with the advent of online bingo, the calls remain an essential part of the game's culture. To fully understand this aspect and become aware of the bingo numbers names called in play, 888 Ladies Bingo has you covered.
Bingo calls list
- Kelly’s eye
Refers to Ned Kelly, an Australian outlaw with only one eye. - One little duck
The number two resembles the shape of a duck. - Cup of tea
Rhymes with the number three. - Knock at the door
Rhymes with the number four. - Man alive
Rhymes with the number five. - Tom Mix/Half a dozen
A famous American cowboy movie star from the 1920s who appeared in many western films, including “Tom Mix rides again” in 1935 / Half of 12 is 6. - Lucky seven
Considered a lucky number in many cultures. - Garden gate/One fat lady
Rhymes with the number eight / Fat lady for the number 8, which refers to the shape of the number resembling an overweight person. - Doctor’s orders
Refers to a doctor’s prescription, which often comes in a package of nine tablets. - Starmer’s den
Refers to British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who lives at 10 Downing Street in London. - Legs eleven
Refers to the shape of the number 11, resembling two legs. - One dozen
Refers to a group of 12 items. - Unlucky for some
Considered an unlucky number in many cultures. - Valentine’s Day
Refers to the date of Valentine’s Day, February 14. - Young and keen
Rhymes with the number 15. - Sweet sixteen
Refers to the age of 16, which is often considered a coming-of-age milestone. - Dancing queen
Refers to the ABBA song “Dancing queen”, which was a hit in the UK in the 1970s. - Coming of age
Refers to the coming-of-age milestone of turning 18 in the UK. - Goodbye teens
Refers to the end of the teenage years. - One score
Refers to a group of 20 items. - Key to the door/Royal salute
Refers to age 21, often considered a coming-of-age milestone in the UK / The ultimate honour at a military ceremony is the 21-gun salute. - Two little ducks
The number 22 resembles the shape of two ducks. - The lord is my shepherd/Thee and me
Refers to the 23rd psalm in the Bible / Rhymes with the number 23. - Two dozen
Refers to a group of 24 items. - Duck and dive
Rhymes with the number 25. - Pick and mix
Refers to a popular British candy store chain. - Gateway to heaven
Refers to 27, often considered a lucky age in many cultures. - Overweight
Refers to the weight of 28 stone, which is considered overweight. - Rise and shine
Rhymes with the number 29. - Dirty Gertie
Refers to the 1937 British comedy film “Dirty Gertie from Harlem USA”. - Get up and run
Rhymes with the number 31. - Buckle my shoe
Rhymes with the number 32. - All the threes/Dirty knee
Refers to the number 33 / Rhymes with the number 33. - Ask for more
Rhymes with the number 34. - Jump and jive
Rhymes with the number 35. - Three dozen
Refers to a group of 36 items. - More than eleven
Refers to the number 37 being more than 11. - Christmas cake
Rhymes with the number 38. - Steps
Refers to the 39 steps in the novel and film “The 39 Steps”. - Naughty forty/Life begins
Rhymes with the number 40 / Refers to the proverb “life begins at 40”. - Time for fun
Rhymes with the number 41. - Winnie the Pooh
Refers to the number 42 being the number of the “House at Pooh corner” in A.A. Milne’s “Winnie the Pooh” books. - Down on your knees
Rhymes with the number 43. - Droopy drawers
Rhymes with the number 44. - Halfway there
Refers to being halfway to the maximum number of 90. - Up to tricks
Rhymes with the number 46. - Four and seven
Refers to the numbers 4 and 7. - Four dozen
Refers to a group of 48 items. - PC
Refers to police constable Archibald Berkeley-Willoughby. - Half a century
Refers to reaching 50 years old or 50 runs in cricket. - Tweak of the thumb
Rhymes with the number 51. - Danny La Rue/Weeks in a year
Refers to Danny La Rue, a British drag queen and entertainer from the 1960s and 1970s / There are 52 weeks in a year. - Stuck in the tree/Here comes Herbie
Rhymes with the number 53 / The Love Bug’s number (featured in Walt Disney motion pictures). - Clean the floor
Rhymes with the number 54. - Snakes alive
Rhymes with the number 55. - Shotts bus/Was she worth it
This bingo nickname is believed to have originated from a bus route in the Scottish town of Shotts. The bus used to travel from Shotts to Glasgow, and the journey time was around 56 minutes / Refers to a marriage licence in UK - players shout back “every penny”. - Heinz varieties
Refers to the variety of products the Heinz company produces. - Make them wait
Rhymes with the number 58. - Brighton line
Refers to the railway line from London to Brighton. - Five dozen/Grandma’s getting frisky
5 x 12 is 60 / Rhymes with the number 60. - Baker’s bun
Rhymes with the number 61. - Turn the screw/Tickety-boo
Rhymes with the number 62. - Tickle me
Rhymes with the number 63 and refers to the popular children’s toy “Tickle me, Elmo”. - Red raw/Almost retired
Refers to sunburned, sore, or irritated skin, which can appear red / A year away from the age when people in the UK become eligible for the state pension. - Old age pension
Refers to the age when people in the UK become eligible for the state pension, which is currently 65 years old. - Clickety click
Rhymes with the number 66. - Made in heaven
Rhymes with the number 67. - Saving grace/Pick a mate
Rhymes with the number 68. - Either way up/Any way up
Refers to the number 69 looking the same upside down as it does right side up. - Three score and ten
Refers to the Biblical reference in psalm 90:10 that “the days of our years are threescore years and ten”, which means 70 years. - Bang on the drum
Rhymes with the number 71 and refers to drum playing. It is often accompanied by players mimicking playing the drum. - Six dozen
Refers to a group of 72 items, equivalent to six dozen. - Queen bee
Rhymes with the number 73. - Candy store/Hit the floor
Rhymes with the number 74. - Strive and strive
Rhymes with the number 75. - Trombones
Refers to the musical instrument, the trombone. - Sunset Strip
Refers to the Sunset Strip in Los Angeles. - Heaven’s gate
Rhymes with the number 78. - One more time
Say it out loud; it’s just like 79. - Gandhi’s breakfast/Eight and blank
Refers to the fact that Gandhi reportedly only ate a small amount of food for breakfast each day – “Ate nothing” (eight nothing) / 8 and nothing (0). - Stop and run/Fat lady with a walking stick
Rhymes with the number 81 / Fat lady for the number 8, which refers to the shape of the number resembling an overweight person and walking stick for the number 1, which refers to the shape of a walking stick. - Fat lady with a duck/Straight on through
This call combines two separate calls: fat lady for the number 8, which refers to the shape of the number resembling an overweight person, and duck for the number 2 / Rhymes with the number 82. - Time for tea
Refers to taking a break for tea, a common British pastime and tradition. - Seven dozen
Refers to a group of 84 items, equivalent to seven dozen. - Staying alive
Refers to the Bee Gees’ song “Stayin’ Alive”. - Between the sticks
Refers to the goalkeeper position in football (soccer). - Torquay in Devon
Rhymes with the number 87 and refers to the coastal town of Torquay in Devon, a popular holiday destination in the UK. - Two fat ladies
Refers to the shape of 88, resembling two fat ladies. - Nearly there
Refers to being close to reaching the maximum number of 90. - Top of the shop
Refers to reaching the maximum number of 90 and winning the top prize.
What Are Bingo Calls?
British bingo calls are a unique set of nicknames given to each number in the game. The bingo caller uses these calls to announce the numbers as they are drawn, contributing to the social atmosphere of bingo. These are usually humorous and have some sort of rhyming quality to them, making bingo number names memorable for players.
The total number of bingo calls is different for each type of game, with this often boiling down to the total number of balls used for that variant:
- 90 ball bingo has 90 different bingo calls.
- 75 ball bingo counterpart only has 75.
Despite this, the rhymes, puns, and creative calls used across these different options tend to remain the same.
History of bingo calls
The tradition of bingo calls dates back to the early 20th century when the game first began gaining popularity within the UK. Initially played in working class communities, the numbers names were often influenced by local expressions and other pieces of regional slang.
However, as the game evolved, so did all of the bingo calls, with more creative and intricate nicknames beginning to emerge over time. Nowadays, the UK boasts a vast collection of different calls, each with its own distinct backstory and origins.
Human bingo callers vs. computer-generated bingo callers
Historically, bingo calls were delivered by real bingo callers who brought their own unique personalities and energy to the game. Their role was more than simply announcing numbers, as they had to contribute to the social and lively atmosphere at the same time. With the rise of online bingo, though, automated callers have become increasingly common.
These computer-generated bingo calls are either software-driven or prerecorded. While they still function just as effectively, it could be considered that these bingo number calls don't offer the same level of engagement that a live caller manages to bring.
