Bingo Sayings & Funny Bingo Calls
If you have ever played bingo, you have probably heard the caller saying some specific and strange phrases related to different bingo numbers. As those words and phrases have taken on their meanings over time, they have reserved their place in the bingo world’ dictionary.
Funny Bingo Calls
The funny bingo calls date back to the 1950s. They were created with an aim to make the game more interesting as well as to catch the attention of players in the noisy bingo halls. In the UK in order to announce the numbers, the callers have traditionally used some nicknames to refer to particular numbers if they are drawn. There is a list of 90 bingo calls which have a different meaning.
For instance, the origin of some of the numbers is based on their shapes. For example, the number 2 looks like a duck, providing the nickname “one little duck” as an alternative call. Thus, the number 22 is called Two Little Ducks. Anything with the number eight can refer to a fat lady. Finally, the number seven looks like a crutch, so when the number 27 isn’t called as “gateway to heaven,” it’s “duck with a crutch” to pair the two look-alikes together. The number 11 is easy to remember because the two ones look like a pair of legs.
Also, more than 50 take their names from rhymes with their numbers. For example, Based off the 1976 hit by Abba, the number 17 gets the name from the opening lines of the song “Dancing Queen”: “You are the Dancing Queen, young and sweet, only 17.” The number 26 is also called “bed-and-breakfast” because of the traditional cost, two shillings and sixpence — otherwise known as “half a crown.”
Other bingo calls have a more historic and intriguing background. For example, Doctor’s Orders, or number 9, stems from the name of a laxative pill that was given out to soldiers during World War II, Brighton Line, number 59, represents the first two digits of the original Brighton telephone numbers while Trombones, number 76 originates from a song from the musical The Music Man.
Here is the list of 90 funny bingo calls with their meaning behind them.
- 1 – Kelly’s Eye
- 2 – One Little Duck
- 3 – Cup of Tea
- 4 – Knock at the Door
- 5 – Man Alive
- 6 – Tom Mix
- 7 – Lucky 7
- 8 – Garden Gate
- 9 – Doctor’s Orders
- 10 – Theresa’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 N Mix
- 27 – Gateway to Heaven
- 28 – Overweight
- 29 – Rise and Shine
- 30 – Dirty Gertie
- 31 – Get up and Run
- 32 – Buckle my Shoe
- 33 – Dirty Knee
- 34 – Ask for More
- 35 – Jump and Jive
- 36 – Three Dozen
- 37 – More than Eleven
- 38 – Christmas Cake
- 39 – Steps
- 40 – Naughty 40
- 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 – Was she worth it?
- 57 – Heinz Varieties
- 58 – Make them Wait
- 59 – Brighten Line
- 60 – Grandma’s Getting Frisky
- 61 – Bakers Bun
- 62 – Turn on the Screw
- 63 – Tickle Me
- 64 – Red Raw
- 65 – Old Age Pension
- 66 – Clickety Click
- 67 – Made in Heaven
- 68 – Saving Grace
- 69 – Either way up
- 70 – Three Score and 10
- 71 – Bang on the Drum
- 72 – Six Dozen
- 73 – Queen B
- 74 – Candy Store
- 75 – Strive and Strive
- 76 – Trombones
- 77 – Sunset Strip
- 78 – Heaven’s Gate
- 79 – One More Time
- 80 – Eight and Blank
- 81 – Stop and Run
- 82 – Straight on Through
- 83 – Stop Farting!
- 84 – Seven Dozen
- 85 – Staying Alive
- 86 – Between the Sticks
- 87 – Torquay in Devon
- 88 – Two Fat Ladies
- 89 – Nearly There or Almost There
- 90 – Top of the Shop
Conclusion
To conclude, Bingo wouldn’t be bingo without these funny bingo calls. All of these nicknames work to create a sense of community in the bingo world. As a result, people not only compete against each other, but they also have a fun time throwing out different calls and joking around with certain numbers.
