There’s a ton of different bingo variations, so our not-so-little bingo glossary runs from one all the way to 90. Whether you’re a fan of 75-ball, 80-ball or 90-ball bingo, you can use it to tell your Kelly’s Eye from your Top of the Shop. Bingo terms or bingo phrases spread not only in the UK, but worldwide. So naturally, you will find bingo slang changes whether you’re playing bingo in the UK, Ireland, US, Australia or anywhere — you’ll read a sample of global pop culture references below!
History of Bingo Calls
These calls, humorous as they all are, originally served a very serious purpose. In the traditional game, one bingo caller would have to keep the attention of a loud bingo hall. The numbers called out could be misheard: 42 and 52 might sound the same to someone at the back of an echoey room or sat close to a chatty bingo player group. The bingo phrases are catchy and witty so that bingo callers and players can easily remember them.
Some bingo calls even have some military inspiration behind them. This is because soldiers during World War Two played a bingo version called Housey Housey. So many bingo nicknames took on their influences of the time, including military terms, rhymes and funny bingo calls. Sometimes they can be a bit rude! We’re nothing if not a bit cheeky here at Paddy Power, though, so far be it from us to leave those out!
As bingo has expanded across the digital sphere, the game has gained some more modern, more contemporary sayings, too. So as you work your way through our list of bingo calls, you’ll see multiple options for some of the numbers.
Traditional vs. Contemporary Bingo Calls
7 = Lucky Seven vs. Flexitarian
9 = Doctor’s Orders vs. Get an Uber from Mine
14 = Valentine’s Day vs. Netflix and Chill
25 = Duck and Dive vs. Quarter-Life Crisis
35 = Jump and Jive vs. It’s a Vibe
38= Christmas Cake vs. Avocado on a Plate
39 = 39 Steps vs. Love Island Time
48 = Four Dozen vs. Not Another Brexit Debate
54 = Clean the Floor vs. Lads on Tour
74 = Candy Store vs. Recycle More
78 = Heaven’s Gate vs. Haters Gon’ Hate
83 = Time for Tea vs. Gluten Free
86 = Between the Sticks vs. Instagram Pics
88 = Two Fat Ladies vs. Wills and Kate
Oh and one more thing – stick with us beyond our full list of calls, because we’ve also got some bingo quotes and sayings to bring you all the way at the bottom of this page!
Full List of Bingo Calls Including Terms from the UK, Ireland and Around the World (1-90)
All the popular, funny bingo calls will include some poetic rhyming phrase or word. We’ll explain the bingo meaning – or number, rather – for each. In some cases, you’ll get a bit of background, too – are these UK bingo calls or American or Australian ones?
1 – Kelly’s Eye
In bingo, many believe this is a reference to Ned Kelly, a dubious character from Australian history. Others believe it’s just another form of military bingo slang… but we don’t know what that would refer to!
2 – One Little Duck
The shape of the number two looks just like a little duck – visually, it’s one of the easiest bingo calls to remember.
3 – Cup of Tea
Some bingo calling phrases on this list are actually bingo rhymes that are easy for players and bingo callers to remember. We suspect this bingo call is a British staple, much like its namesake – which of course rhymes with the number three.
4 – Knock at the Door
The knock at the door bingo call is another fun rhyme.
5 – Man Alive
Man alive rhymes with the number five. It was also a popular BBC documentary in the 1960s.
6 – Tom Mix / Half a Dozen
In the UK, half a dozen is a known term for “six”. Over in the US, you might hear “Tom Mix” called out in bingo. This American film star appeared in almost 300 Westerns and silent movies, and his name is a convenient rhyme for six! Some variations can also include “Tom’s tricks”.
7 – Lucky Seven / Flexitarian
Many cultures consider seven a lucky number so it’s no surprise that it has found its way to bingo – a game based on pure luck. Players also love the number seven for its multiple associations. For example, there are 7 days in the week, 7 colours of the rainbow and 7 notes on a musical scale.
8 – Garden Gate / Tinder Date
Rumour has it that the ‘Garden Gate’ was a secret code used for hidden meeting spots or drop off points. It also happens to rhyme with number eight, so here we are. A playful, modern alternative is “Tinder Date”.
9 – Doctor’s Orders / Get an Uber from Mine
During the second world war, there was a pill given out to soldiers by army doctors, called Number 9. You probably don’t want to know what the number nine did, so just be happy if you’ve got the doctor’s orders on your bingo card!
10 – [Prime Minister’s name]’s Den
Are you au fait with current affairs? This call inserts the name of the country’s current leader, in a reference to the UK’s number 10 Downing Street – the prime minister’s residence.
11 – Legs Eleven
Just like “one little duck”, the two ones in parallel look like two (rather skinny) legs.
12 – One Dozen
This one speaks for itself!
13 – Unlucky for Some
Many believe in the superstition that the number 13 is unlucky for all except a lucky few – if you make a line or a house with a 13, maybe that’s you!
14 – Valentine’s Day / Netflix and Chill
This reference to the international day of love and romance, February 14th, has had a modern makeover!
15 – Young and keen
Keen rhymes with fifteen; variation is ‘rugby team’.
16 – Sweet 16
Turning 16 is usually a bit of a big deal and marks a special day in most countries. Some callers may also add “and never been kissed”.
17 – Dancing Queen / Selfie Queen
Clearly this call made its way on this list in 1976 when ABBA released their hit single ‘Dancing Queen’ – “young and sweet, only seventeen!” This can also be adapted to “selfie queen” for a more modern take.
18 – Coming of Age
An alternative call is also “Now you can vote!”.
19 – Goodbye Teens
Or “Keep ‘em keen”! Which is your favourite?
20 – One score / Getting Plenty
A score is made up of 20 units of something. However, an alternative is the bingo phrase ‘getting plenty’ which not-so incidentally rhymes with the number twenty. It can also be construed as one of the rude bingo calls by insinuation.
21 – Royal salute / Key of the door
In a royal or military salute, there are 21 guns fired. Also, traditionally, 21 was the age you would move out into the world and get your own home with your own set of keys ‘to the door’. Some bingo callers may also add “adult fun” since most things, in many countries, become legal when you turn 21.
22 – Two little ducks
Were you paying attention? If one two looks like one duck, then two twos look like two ducks side by side! A more modern take is “I don’t know about you”, referencing a 2012 pop song named “22”.
23 – Thee and me / The Lord Is My Shepherd
Well, the first one rhymes, but both seem to be biblical references.
24 – Two dozen / Lads on Tour
Self-explanatory, once again. Although a more modern one is “lads on tour”.
25 – Duck and Dive / Quarter-Life Crisis
Bear with us here, because there’s a tenuous link to arrive at this bingo term. So like the 22 you have a duck, and a five which is obviously another duck upside down. Some niche bingo games may also name this after the famous UK singer’s third hit album. Or, now we’re all living longer, you might see this as your quarter-life!
26 – Half a Crown / Pick and Mix
In the old days, two shillings (20) and sixpence were equal to half a crown. Alternatively Pick and Mix is more of a rhyme for remembering this bingo call.
27 – Gateway to Heaven
Seven rhymes with heaven. As for the gateway part, your guess is as good as ours.
28 – In a State
This one’s a bit of reverse Cockney rhyme, as saying someone’s “in a right two and eight” suggests they’re not feeling too well.
29 – Rise and Shine
The numbers rhyme with this cheery saying (and every other number ending in nine, but you’ll remember it anyway, right?!).
30 – Dirty Gertie
The bingo call for 30 rhymes nicely, but there’s a story behind it. This is the nickname for the bronze statue La Délivrance in North London erected in 1927, which is of a naked lady. There was a rude song called Dirty Gertie from Bizerte, which Allied soldiers in North Africa used to sing during the Second World War – so it wasn’t a huge leap to get from one to the other… and it stuck.
31 – Get Up and Run
A simple rhyme for the number 31 is “Get up and run”. One theory is that it’s another military bingo call, something sergeants might once have shouted it at squaddies. But don’t get up and run if you hear this in your game of bingo – you might miss a house!
32 – Buckle My Shoe / Jimmy Choo
One, two, buckle my shoe; three, four, knock at the door. This popular English rhyme merely added 30 to get the nifty little bingo rhyme. But you’ll also hear Jimmy Choo from your classiest bingo callers!
33 – All the Threes / Fish, Chips and Peas / Dirty Knee
The 33 bingo call shows all the threes available in 90-ball bingo so “all the threes” is a standard bingo call, but there’s also “Fish, chips and peas” – a beloved dinner for Brits – and the rhyme “Dirty Knee”.
34 – Ask for More
Another great rhyme that may be a reference to the iconic “Oliver Twist” novel by Charles Dickens, later turned into a popular musical.
35 – Jump and Jive / It’s a Vibe
The jive was a popular dance in the 1940s. Feel free to do this dance step if you make a house on number 35 – it’s a vibe, after all.
36 – Three Dozen
This is pretty self-explanatory, a standard bingo call.
37 – More Than 11 / One Night in Heaven
We still don’t know the origin of either of these, so just enjoy the beauty of a simple rhyme!
38 – Christmas Cake / Avocado on a Plate
Yet another rhyme, this one seems to come from Cockney rhyming slang, but this decade gave it a little smashed-onto-toast refresh.
39 – 39 Steps / Love Island Time
“The 39 Steps” is a famous Alfred Hitchcock movie from 1935. It’s still quite well-known today – probably because it was re-made in 1959 and then again in 1978 – so it makes for a good bingo call. Still, nothing can beat the popularity of Love Island, eh?
40 – Life Begins / Naughty 40
The number 40 is a milestone birthday in so many countries. A self-help book from almost a century ago of the same name helped turn it into a catchphrase – and we all know bingo calls love a catchphrase.
41 – Time for Fun
Again age-related and following the previous bingo call. If life begins at 40, then 41 is time for some fun!
42 – Winnie the Pooh / Manhattan Street
A double cultural reference here: you’ve got the protagonist of A. A. Milne’s books from 1926 and a reference to the classic 1933 American movie “42nd Street”.
43 – Down on Your Knees
This could mean anything really, but we think it may come from war-time Britain and describes a stance soldiers often had.
44 – Droopy Drawers / All the Fours
This bingo call is a nice rhyme with a cheeky nod to two fours looking like really baggy underwear. If you’ve got a good imagination. Or there’s a nice clean call in “All the Fours”!
45 – Halfway There
In UK bingo’s most common bingo variant, 45 is half of the 90 possible balls in the game.
46 – Up to Tricks
A simple rhyme.
47 – Four and Seven
In case you didn’t know!
48 – Four Dozen / Not Another Brexit Debate
4 x 12 = 48. Or the supposedly more contemporary version proves how quickly pop culture moves.
49 – PC / One More Time
This isn’t a reference to a computer, but to an old TV programme “The Adventures of P.C. 49” (1946–53). So many bingo calls come from that era. Otherwise, bingo callers can use “one more time” to rhyme with 49.
50 – Half a Century / Hawaii Five-0 / Blind 50
The latter is common in the US, where Hawaii Five-0 was a US police drama in the 1970s. “Blind 50” is also a bullseye on a dartboard.
51 – Tweak of the Thumb / I Love My Mum
One rhyme is sweeter than the other!
52 – Danny La Rue / Weeks in a Year
A famous, Irish drag artist or a simple fact – take your pick.
53 – Stuck in the Tree / Here Comes Herbie
53 is the number of the famous VW Beetle Herbie.
54 – Clean the Floor
We’re not sure why housework is a feature here but this bingo rhyme is a pretty old one.
55 – All the Fives / Snakes Alive
Because two fives resemble snakes.
56 – Was She Worth It? / Shotts
Five shillings and sixpence was the price of a marriage licence “back then”. If you know your stuff, this is an interactive call: when the caller asks, “Was she worth it?”, they expect you to reply, “Every penny!” In some regions, “Shotts” is used since 56 was the original number of the bus route from Glasgow to Shotts.
57 – Heinz Varieties
This number references Heinz, a UK brand of beans known for having 57 varieties of canned beans. The company actually sells more products, but the founder, Henry Heinz, stuck with 57 because it was supposedly his lucky number: five was his favourite number, seven his wife’s.
58 – Make Them Wait
A simple rhyme.
59 – Brighton Line
There are mixed ideas on the origin of the 59 bingo call. You can travel 59 minutes by train from Brighton to London (honestly!) and the train from Brighton to London has engine number 59. Others say it stems from the fact that all phone numbers in Brighton start 5-9.
60 – Five Dozen / Three Score / Blind 60
All pretty obvious, but if you want a more interesting one, you can use “Grandma’s getting frisky”.
61 – Baker’s Bun
It rhymes!
62 – Turn the Screw / Tickety-Boo
Your preference probably depends on how many numbers you’ve crossed off… but ultimately, it’s up to the dealer!
63 – Tickle Me
Another cheeky rhyme.
64 – Red Raw
Quite an old almost-rhyme.
65 – Old age pension
This one’s feeling a bit outdated, but it refers to the age you can collect a pension in many countries.
66 – All the Sixes / Clickety Click
Well, the first one rhymes.
67 – Stairway to Heaven
Perhaps from the famous Led Zeppelin song in the seventies.
68 – Saving Grace
It rhymes?
69 – Any way up
These numbers look the same even upside down.
70 – Three score and ten
“Simple” maths.
71 – Bang on the Drum
A rhyme whose rhythm means it fits 71 better than any other number ending in 1.
72 – Six Dozen
More maths – and you thought you’d never need your times tables!
73 – Queen Bee
Another rhyme – we’re not sure why it’s in the seventies, but we love it all the same.
74 – Candy Store / Hit the Floor / Recycle More
Another set of rhymes! We think the second likely refers to dancing, not falling, but whatever helps you remember it! The last is your environment-conscious contemporary update.
75 – Strive and Strive
Like striving for a house – we think! It’s also the highest number in 75-ball bingo, when you might find it’s called “Big Daddy”.
76 – Trombones
The bingo call for 76 refers to ‘76 Trombones’, from a song in the hit musical, The Music Man.
77 – All the Sevens / Sunset Strip / Double Hockey Sticks
77 Sunset Strip was a popular 1950s/60s TV show, but the number 77 also looks like hockey sticks.
78 – Heaven’s Gate / Haters Gon’ Hate
A simple rhyme, but you’ll have to remember the difference between this and garden gate (see number eight!). You might find the modern version’s syllable match easier.
79 – One More Time
One more rhyme!
80 – Eight and Blank / Gandhi’s Breakfast
The first is quite self-explanatory. The second may be because Gandhi allegedly “ate nothing” (geddit…?) during the Indian independence movement.
81 – Stop and Run
As opposed to “Get up and run” for 31. Each relies on the same number of syllables as its phrase and that’s how you’ll remember it!
82 – Straight on Through
A lovely rhyme, but if that doesn’t cut the mustard, you can call it “fat lady with a duck” (see 88 and two).
83 – Time for Tea / Gluten Free
We get rhythmic at the top end! Another syllabic, rhyming match — or something that’s easier to digest.
84 – Seven Dozen
We love that online bingo marks your numbers off automatically – wouldn’t want to miss a number while working this one out!
85 – Staying Alive
It may be a reference to the Bee Gees, but plenty of people think this call was around before that!
86 – Between the Sticks / Instagram Pics
Borrowed from football terminology and a reference to goalies, it works here because of its syllables. As does the more modern version, if you’re more familiar with social media than the beautiful game.
87 – Torquay in Devon
It is, but how it came to be associated with bingo remains uncertain.
88 – Two Fat Ladies / Wills and Kate
This one suggests the number eight looks like a curvy woman and remains a celebratory bingo call to date. A more up-to-date version uses a royal reference instead.
89 – Nearly There
A reference to 89 being just one shy of the total number of balls (see 90).
90 – Top of the Shop / End of the Line / As Far As We Go
Number 90 is the last of the bingo calls in 90-ball bingo.
Famous Quotes About Bingo
Bingo is such a favourite in so many countries that it creeps into our language all the time. There are famous references to bingo, mantras inspired by bingo, and more. Here are some of our favourites.
Famous quotes
- “Congress: bingo with billions.” – Red Skelton (Comedian).
- “I’ve had some of my best matches in front of 50 people in bingo halls.” – Johnny Gargano (Professional Wrestler).
- “People ask me if there are going to be stories of Harry Potter as an adult. Frankly, if I wanted to, I could keep writing stories until Harry is a senior citizen, but I don’t know how many people would actually want to read about a 65-year-old Harry still at Hogwarts playing bingo with Ron and Hermione”. – J.K. Rowling (Author).
Inspirational quotes with a bingo twist
- Keep calm and bingo on.
- Impossible is nothing, unless you’re hoping to hit 91.
- Do one thing every day that scares you, like playing bingo without a dabber.
- Life is just a random series of balls; you never know what you’re going to get next.
- All it takes is one call for your life to change in an instant!
Listen for These Bingo Calls When You Play at Paddy Power Bingo
It’s a long list of call terms that keeps growing – as all modern bingo players know, this is a game that’s moving with the times! And bingo chat keeps these bingo calls alive as players share and have a giggle.
Sign up or log into Paddy Power Bingo and keep an ear out for these bingo calls as you play!
THE PADDY POWER GUIDE TO SAFER GAMBLING – EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW
