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’re new to the game, you might wonder what bingo calls mean. Heck, even if you’re a seasoned player, you still might wonder. In any case, we’ve 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!
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: a ‘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.
Bingo Cards
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.
Playing Bingo
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’.
Bingo Card & Pin
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 game.
