Bingo Calls: A Complete List of Number & Call
Traditional bingo calls are a crucial part of the game. They bring more character, humour, and charm to the experience of playing bingo in a social setting. But they also appear in online games to help recreate the thrill of sitting at a table with friends, marking off numbers and (hopefully) watching wins get closer.
But if you are new to the game, you might wonder what bingo calls mean. Even seasoned players still might wonder. We have created this complete guide to all 90 bingo calls and a quick explanation for each. Keep this handy next time you play at any of the best bingo sites recommended by the Gambling Zone team.
| Number | Call | Meaning |
| 1 | Kelly’s eye | Commonly interpreted as a reference to the Australian outlaw Ned Kelly and a military slang term. |
| 2 | One little duck | One of the simplest bingo calls: the number ‘2’ resembles a tiny duckling. |
| 3 | Cup of tea | Cockney rhyming slang for ‘3’. |
| 4 | Knock at the door | Another example of rhyming slang. This is taken from the Nursery rhyme ‘One, Two, Buckle My Shoe’. |
| 5 | Man alive | ‘Man alive’ rhymes with 5. |
| 6 | Tom Mix/Half a dozen | Tom Mix was an actor who appeared in Westerns, and his name conveniently rhymes with ‘6’. ‘Half a dozen’ is a bit more obvious. |
| 7 | Lucky seven | Various cultures (e.g. Japanese, Western) consider ‘7’ lucky. For example, Japan has the Seven Lucky Gods Pilgrimage. |
| 8 | Garden gate | ‘Garden gate’ rhymes with ‘8’. |
| 9 | Doctor’s orders | Refers to a pill given to soldiers in WWII — a potent laxative. |
| 10 | [Current UK Prime Minister]’s den | A rhyming reference to 10 Downing Street, home of the UK prime minister. At the time of writing, that’s Keir Starmer. |
| 11 | Legs eleven | One of the most well-known bingo calls, often accompanied by a playful wolf whistle. The number resembles a pair of slim legs. |
| 12 | One dozen | A dozen is 12 units. |
| 13 | Unlucky for some | Refers to ‘13’ being considered an unlucky number. |
| 14 | Valentine’s Day | The 14th of February is Valentine’s Day. Possibly the most romantic of bingo calls. |
| 15 | Young and keen | A simple rhyme for 15. |
| 16 | Sweet sixteen | A 16th birthday is generally referred to as a ‘sweet sixteenth’, and is a key milestone between being a child and adult. |
| 17 | Dancing queen | Refers to the classic ABBA song, which includes ‘17’ in its chorus. |
| 18 | Coming of age | The next big milestone after turning 16. A person comes of age at 18. |
| 19 | Goodbye teens | Another of the age-related bingo calls marking a person’s final teen year. |
| 20 | One score/getting plenty | A ‘score’ contains 20 units. ‘Getting plenty’ rhymes with the number. |
| 21 | Royal salute/Key of the door | A royal salute features 21 guns being fired, and people traditionally got their own home (and own keys) at age 21. |
| 22 | Two little ducks | The number ‘22’ looks just like two ducks. |
| 23 | The lord is my shepherd | Refers to the opening words of Psalm 23, from the Old Testament. |
| 24 | Two dozen | Add 12 and 12 (2 dozen) together to get 24. |
| 25 | Duck and dive | Another of the rhyming bingo calls. This rhymes with 25, but it also includes one upright duck (‘2’) and another that appears to be diving (‘5’). |
| 26 | Half a crown | A half crown is outdated UK currency, equal to two shillings and sixpence. This would be written as ‘2/6’. |
| 27 | Gateway to heaven | This rhymes with 27. |
| 28 | In a state | ‘Two and eight’ is Cockney rhyming slang for being in a poor state. |
| 29 | Rise and shine | A lighthearted rhyme. |
| 30 | Dirty Gertie | Refers to a nickname for the La Delivrance statue in London, known as Gertrude. Allied forces also sang a cheeky song named ‘Dirty Gertie from Bizerte’ during WWII. |
| 31 | Get up and run | This call rhymes (just about) with 31. |
| 32 | Buckle my shoe | Another of the popular rhyming bingo calls. This rhymes with 32. |
| 33 | All the threes/Fish, chips and peas | Refers to all of the ‘3’ balls that appear in a bingo game with 90 balls. The second call rhymes with a popular meal from a chip shop. |
| 34 | Ask for more | A rhyme that follows on nicely from the food-based call for 33. |
| 35 | Jump and jive | An energetic rhyme for 35. |
| 36 | Three dozen | Three sets of 12 make up 36. |
| 37 | More than eleven | It’s hard to disagree with this call: 37 is more than 11. It rhymes with the number, too. |
| 38 | Christmas cake | The most festive of bingo calls, though it only just rhymes with 38. |
| 39 | Steps | Refers to the film and novel ‘The 39 Steps’. |
| 40 | Life begins | Taken from the phrase ‘life begins at 40’. |
| 41 | Time for fun | Follows on from the call for 40 and rhymes with 41. |
| 42 | Winnie the Pooh | A rhyming reference to the beloved fictional character. |
| 43 | Down on your knees | Another of the bingo calls that was inspired by WWII, specifically a phrase soldiers used. |
| 44 | Droopy drawers | A comical rhyme and reference to ill-fitting underwear. |
| 45 | Halfway there | Represents the halfway point in a 90-ball game. |
| 46 | Up to tricks | Rhymes with 46. |
| 47 | Four and seven | This call simply states the two numbers that make up the pair. |
| 48 | Four dozen | Four sets of 12 make up 48. |
| 49 | PC | This bingo call is usually followed by the response ‘evening, all’. Inspired by the TV series ‘The Adventures of PC 49’ that followed the exploits of an undercover policeman. |
| 50 | Half a century | Marking the halfway point to 100. |
| 51 | Tweak of the thumb | A rhyme for 51. |
| 52 | Danny La Rue/Weeks in a year | Refers to Danny La Rue, a popular drag performer, and the number of weeks in a year, respectively. |
| 53 | Stuck in the tree/Here comes Herbie | ‘Stuck in the tree’ rhymes with the number. ‘Here comes Herbie’ is a reference to Herbie the VW Beetle, which appeared in numerous classic films. |
| 54 | Clean the floor | A chore-centric rhyme for 54. |
| 55 | Snakes alive | Rhymes with 55. The number also resembles a pair of snakes, both upright. |
| 56 | Shotts Bus/Was she worth it? | The bus route between Glasgow and Shotts was originally numbered 56. Additionally, a marriage licence once cost five shillings and a sixpence — the phrase ‘was she worth it?’ is a comical reference to that. |
| 57 | Heinz varieties | Food company Heinz famously had ‘57 Varieties’ as its slogan. |
| 58 | Make them wait | A straightforward rhyme. |
| 59 | Brighton Line | This bingo call is believed to take inspiration from the number of the train connecting Brighton and London. However, opinions on the origin vary. |
| 60 | Five dozen/Grandma’s getting frisky | Five sets of 12 make 60. ‘Grandma’s getting frisky’ rhymes with the number. |
| 61 | Baker’s bun | A simple rhyme. |
| 62 | Turn the screw/Tickety-boo | Both calls rhyme with 62. |
| 63 | Tickle me | A comical rhyming call. |
| 64 | Red raw/Almost retired | ‘Red raw’ rhymes with the number (or near enough). ‘Almost retired’ refers to the retirement age of 65. |
| 65 | Old age pension | Follows on from the above, referring to people of retirement age. |
| 66 | Clickety click | A rhyme referring to a train running along a railway line. |
| 67 | Stairway to heaven | This rhymes with the number and refers to a classic song. |
| 68 | Pick a mate/Saving grace | Both bingo calls rhyme with the number (though ‘pick a mate’ is the closest match). |
| 69 | Any way up | This call refers to the number looking identical even when turned upside down. |
| 70 | Three score and ten | Three scores (or 20s) plus 10 is 70. |
| 71 | Bang on the drum | A musical rhyme for 71. |
| 72 | Six dozen | Another of the mathematical bingo calls. Six sets of 12 equals 72. |
| 73 | Queen bee | A bee-centric rhyme. |
| 74 | Hit the floor/Candy store | Both of these bingo calls rhyme with the number (and suggest good times). |
| 75 | Strive and strive | Another of the more straightforward rhyming bingo calls. |
| 76 | Trombones | Refers to the marching track ‘Seventy-Six Trombones’, taken from ‘The Music Man’. |
| 77 | Sunset strip | A reference to the television series ‘77 Sunset Strip’ shown in the 1960s. |
| 78 | 39 more steps | Two sets of 39 make 78. Also the second reference to the film and novel ‘The 39 Steps’. |
| 79 | One more time | A rhyming bingo call for 79. |
| 80 | Gandhi's breakfast | A slightly cheeky reference to Gandhi eating nothing for breakfast: eight and nothing/zero = ‘ate nothing’. |
| 81 | Stop and run | A playful rhyme and juxtaposition for 81. |
| 82 | Straight on through | A traditional rhyming bingo call. |
| 83 | Time for tea | A quintessentially British rhyme. |
| 84 | Seven dozen | The last of the dozen-based calls. Seven sets of 12 adds up to 84. |
| 85 | Staying alive | A rhyming call and a nod to the classic Bee Gees track. |
| 86 | Between the sticks | A rhyming call and a reference to a football goalkeeper standing between the goalposts (or two ‘sticks’). |
| 87 | Torquay in Devon | One of the geographical bingo calls, named after the seaside town in Devon. |
| 88 | Two fat ladies | Easily one of the most popular bingo calls in the UK, though could be considered a tad insensitive today. The two numbers resemble a pair of ladies with round bodies. |
| 89 | Nearly there | Indicates that this is just one away from the final number in the game. |
| 90 | Top of the shop/End of the line | This is the top number and the end of the line. |
What are Bingo Calls?
Bingo calls are fun and distinctive nicknames used to clarify the 90 numbers in a game. Originally created to avoid confusion between similar-sounding numbers in noisy bingo halls, these calls have evolved over time, incorporating rhymes, humor, and pop culture references. Rooted in London’s bingo scene, they have since become a staple of the game worldwide.
Beyond adding entertainment, bingo calls help players quickly recognize numbers, making the game more engaging.
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Popular Bingo Calls Themes
Bingo calls add fun and excitement to the game, making numbers easy to recognize. Many are based on rhymes, pop culture, or number shapes. From classics like "Two Little Ducks (22)" to themed calls, they bring extra enjoyment. Let’s explore the different themed bingo calls!
Funny Bingo Calls
These bingo calls add humor to the game with amusing wordplay, puns, and rhymes. Examples include “Legs Eleven (11)” and “Dirty Gertie (30)”—perfect for keeping the atmosphere lighthearted and fun.
About Funny Bingo Calls >Christmas Bingo Calls
Festive bingo calls bring holiday cheer to the game with references to Christmas traditions, songs, and symbols. Examples include “Ho Ho Ho (80)” and “Santa’s Sack (25)”—making Christmas bingo a great addition to holiday gatherings.
About Christmas Bingo Calls >Halloween Bingo Calls
Spooky-themed calls add a thrilling twist to bingo nights, inspired by ghosts, ghouls, and classic horror elements. Examples include “Witch’s Brew (2)” and “Creepy Crawly (40)”, setting the perfect eerie mood for a Halloween game.
About Halloween Bingo Calls >Traditional vs. Contemporary Bingo Calls
| Numbers | Traditional Calls | Contemporary Calls |
| 7 | Lucky Seven | Flexitarian |
| 9 | Doctor’s Orders | Get an Uber from Mine |
| 14 | Valentine’s Day | Netflix and Chill |
| 25 | Duck and Dive | Quarter-Life Crisis |
| 35 | Jump and Jive | It’s a Vibe |
| 38 | Christmas Cake | Avocado on a Plate |
| 39 | 39 Steps | Love Island Time |
| 48 | Four Dozen | Not Another Brexit Debate |
| 54 | Clean the Floor | Lads on Tour |
| 74 | Candy Store | Recycle More |
| 78 | Heaven’s Gate | Haters Gon’ Hate |
| 83 | Time for Tea | Gluten Free |
| 86 | Between the Sticks | Instagram Pics |
| 88 | Two Fat Ladies | Wills and Kate |
Bingo Calls Final Thoughts
Bingo calls have made the game fun for generations, adding laughter and excitement. Whether in a hall, online, or with friends, these catchy phrases make each number stand out. So listen closely—you might find a new favourite! Happy playing and good luck!
