British Bingo Nicknames and Lingo - Full List of Bingo Number Names

Traditional Bingo Calls and Their Origins

When it comes to classic bingo number nicknames, you will find that the bulk of them rhyme with the number they are describing. Yet there are also some which forgo rhyming to describe the number. Some of the best-known bingo calls, such as two little ducks (quack, quack), legs eleven and two fat ladies reflect how the numbers actually look. You will find plenty of cultural and historical references mingled in among British bingo nicknames. Want to see the complete list of classic bingo number names? Then read on!

Full list of traditional bingo calls

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. Doctors Orders
10. Theresa’s Den
11. Legs Eleven
12. One Dozen
13. Unlucky for Some
14. Valentines Day
15. Young and Keen
16. Sweet Sixteen
17. Dancing Queen
18. Coming of Age
19. Goodbye-Teens
20. One Score
21. Key to the Door
22. Two Little Ducks
23. The Lord is my Shepherd
24. Two Dozen
25. Duck and Dive
26. Pick and Mix
27. Duck and a Crutch
28. Over Weight
29. Rise and Shine
30. Dirty Gertie
31. Get up and Run
32. Buckle My Shoe
33. All the Threes
34. Ask for More
35. Jump and Jive
36. Three Dozen
37. More than Eleven
38. Christmas Cake
39. Steps
40. Naughty Forty
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. Brighton Line
60. Five Dozen
61. Bakers Bun
62. Tickety-boo
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 & Ten
71. Bang on the Drum
72. Six Dozen
73. Crutch & a Flea
74. Candy Store
75. Strive & Strive
76. Trombones
77. Sunset Strip
78. Heavens Gate
79. One More Time
80. Eight & Blank
81. Stop & Run
82. Straight On Through
83. Time for Tea
84. Seven Dozen
85. Staying Alive
86. Between the Sticks
87. Torquay in Devon
88. Two Fat Ladies
89. Nearly There
90. Top of the Shop

Meanings Behind British Bingo Number Nicknames

The meaning behind many of the British bingo calls is clear. Take 17 for instance, which is clearly linked to the lyrics of ABBA’s Dancing Queen. As for sweet sixteen, coming of age and key to the door, all are familiar milestones connected with the respective numbers. We have already touched upon number 2s looking like ducks and eights looking like plump ladies. Yet there are a couple of other numbers that are linked to the way they look. In classic bingo calls, 3’s can be described as ears or fleas, whilst a 7 can be seen as a crutch. As such, you can find a range of quirky combos, like a duck and a crutch (27) and a crutch and a flea (73).

Number 10 is often described as the current prime minister’s den. We had three years of this bingo number nickname being Theresa’s Den. Although, with Mrs May failing in her best efforts to push through a contentious Brexit negotiation deal, number 10 swiftly became Johnson’s Den.

For all the obvious explanations for number nicknames, there are a few more obscure ones that are added to the mix. Have you ever wondered about how these numbers got their nicknames?

• 9 Doctor’s Orders – The number 9 pill was a powerful laxative that doctors issued during World War 2. It has been suggested that the pill got its name as 9pm was the last time you could see the doctor.
• 30 Dirty Gertie – Dirty Gertie from Bizerte is the name of a bawdy song that soldiers sang during World War 2.
• 39 Steps – The 39 Steps is the name of a Hitchcock film, which is based loosely on John Buchan’s 1915 adventure novel, The Thirty-Nine Steps.
• 52 Danny La Rue – Danny La Rue was an entertainer, who was famed for his singing and cross-dressing performances in the 60s and 70s.
• 56 Was She Worth It? – This nickname refers to the old cost of a wedding licence, which was 5 shillings and sixpence (five and six). When this number is called, players reply with “every penny”.

Updating Old Classics and Make them Popular Again

Bingo calls came into exitance back in the 1950s. Whilst many have stood the test of time, there are some that have become outdated and unpopular. Bingo callers have added new call names, to put their own stamp on the game, likewise, regional variations of calls also developed. Bingo also became more popular with a younger generation of players, ushering in further changes to bingo nicknames.

In 2003, Butlins embarked on updating British bingo calls for a new generation of players. The new list was devised by Charlie Blake, a professor of popular culture.

“My task was to find reference points from 2003 society and culture – from technology and food through to celebrities and TV – which would have a much greater meaning to the public today.” Charlie Blake

Blake’s revised list kept old favourites, including two little ducks and legs eleven. Yet it threw in many new names that captured social and cultural references relevant to the time. Tony’s Den (10) made way for Brad and Jen. Garden Gate (8) was replaced with Pop Idol star Gareth Gates. Danny La Rue (52) became Chicken Vindaloo. With 72 as So Solid Crew, 71 as J-Lo’s bum and 30 as Ali G, the list hit the nail on the head, capturing the spirit of 2003.

In 2016, Mecca Bingo invited their social media followers to give their bingo calls a revamp. Looking for new nicknames that were fresh and current, they compiled an updated list of calls to be trialled in their UK bingo clubs the following year. Number 6 became Little Mix, 8 was Tinder Date, and the old classic two fat ladies for 88 made way for moobs. Adele became the new call for 25, following the success of her hit album. With references to Strictly Come Dancing, Taylor Swift, selfies and Netflix, the new calls reflected the times.

Online Bingo – a New Type of Bingo Language

Whilst bingo calls have evolved and developed since their inception in the ’50s, in recent years, online bingo has brought with it a whole new genre of bingo lingo (not to be confused with the Bingo Lingo party craze!). Playing bingo online is a social experience, where you can meet new friends and interact with other players in bingo chat rooms. The best bingo sites are part of the list of online casinos in the UK. They have vibrant communities where you chat as you play. When you see the chat in a bingo room, you will notice that there are tons of abbreviations used. Whilst some of these, such as LOL, BTW, BRB are probably familiar, there are many abbreviations that are specifically bingo related. They are popular with bingo players as they help to convey what you want to say more quickly.

Frequently used bingo lingo includes 1TG (1 to go), 2TG (2 to go) and 3TG (3 to go), as players call out how many numbers they need to win. When there’s a win, players are quick to congratulate the winner with WD (well done) and WTG (way to go) or to give a consolatory BLNT (better luck next time). In addition to these generally used abbreviations, some bingo sites and networks also feature their own specific terms. It may take a little practice to get to grips with the numerous abbreviations, but the CH/CM (chat host/monitor) is always on hand to help out if needed.

FAQ

We have reached the end of our blog post. We hope you found it both interesting and informative. The meanings behind bingo nicknames is a source of great curiosity and it is a topic that raises many questions. For your convenience, we collated the most frequently asked questions about bingo number names. You can find the answers to them below. And if you want to read about some of the most unique casino names, then visit our article about the top online casino names.