Bingo Calls: A Complete List of Terms and Meanings

Bingo Calls

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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

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

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

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.


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