Want to know what bingo calls are?
Well, you’re in the right place. In this guide we’ll provide a complete list of 113 traditional and modern bingo calls that every online bingo player should know.
You’ve probably heard some of the most common bingo calls before – for example, ‘two fat ladies = 88’ or ‘legs eleven = number 11’ – but there are lots more to learn!
Each of the 90 balls in a traditional bingo game has a corresponding bingo call, which helps players to distinguish between the numbers being called out – for example, the words ‘fifteen’ and ‘fifty’ can sound very similar.
So if you want to know your two little ducks from your droopy drawers, read on for our handy guide to bingo calls!
We’ll cover everything you need to know, including 113 useful bingo calls, the history of bingo calls, and the best online bingo games at Slingo.
Jump to:
- The Complete List of UK Bingo Call Numbers
- The History of Bingo Calls
- Modern Bingo Calls
- Bingo Calls in Online Bingo
- The Best Online Bingo Games on Slingo
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The Complete List Of UK Bingo Call Numbers
Here’s a complete list of 113 bingo calls you might hear when you’re playing bingo in the UK, both online and in person. Take a look and see if there are any you recognise! And don’t worry if it’s all Greek to you – we’ll explain a few of our favourites in the next section.
1. Kelly’s Eye — 
There are a few different suggestions for this call. Some believe it was a military reference while others say it refers to Ned Kelly, the famous Australian outlaw who only had one eye.
2. One Little Duck — 
A visual reference to the fact that the number two looks a bit like a duck (if you use your imagination!).
3. Cup of Tea — 
A simple rhyme - who doesn’t love a cuppa while they’re playing online bingo?!
4. Knock at the Door — 
From an old Scottish nursery rhyme - and it also rhymes with the number four.
5. Man Alive — 
An old-fashioned exclamation to express surprise - thought to be a nautical term used when spotting shipwreck survivors!
6. Tom Mix — 
An American actor who starred in many early Western films (most of them silent).
7. Lucky Seven — 
The Lucky Seven is a popular symbol in Western culture (and in some slot games).
8. Garden Gate — 
There may be more to this bingo call that rhymes with eight than meets the eye – rumour has it that ‘garden gate’ was code for a secret rendezvous point!
9. Doctor’s Orders — 
During WWII, doctors gave poor soldiers a laxative called Number 9 to make them feel better!
10. Cameron’s Den — 
Number 10 is the London home of the Prime Minister. This example refers to ex-PM David Cameron, although perhaps it should be updated to Starmer’s Den!
11. Legs 11 — 
If you use your imagination a little, the number 11 looks like two legs!
12. One Dozen — 
A straightforward bingo call - one dozen is equal to twelve.
13. Unlucky for Some — 
Many people believe the number 13 to be unlucky. Are you one of them?
14. Valentine’s Day — 
14th February is Valentine’s Day - the day of love!
15. Young and Keen — 
‘Keen’ rhymes with ‘fifteen’ in this simple rhyming slang bingo call.
16. Sweet 16 — 
In the USA, people often have parties to celebrate coming of age at 16.
17. Dancing Queen — 
A reference to the lyrics of ABBA’s hit single (‘dancing queen, young and sweet, only seventeen’)!
18. Coming of Age — 
Many consider 18 to mark the beginning of adulthood. It’s also the legal age that you can drink alcohol and gamble!
19. Goodbye Teens — 
The last year of your teens before you enter your twenties.
20. One Score — 
A ‘score’ is an old-fashioned way of saying ‘twenty.’
21. Royal Salute — 
21 guns are fired in a royal or a military salute.
22. Two Little Ducks — 
The shape of the numbers looks like two ducks swimming in the water.
23. Thee and Me — 
Rumoured to be from an old nursery rhyme - or perhaps it’s just rhyming slang!
24. Two Dozen — 
2 x 12 = 24. An easy one if you’re good at maths.
25. Duck and Dive — 
It’s said that the 2 looks like an upright duck, while the 5 is a duck that has dived into the water!
26. Pick and Mix — 
Our favourite type of sweets to munch on - just be careful not to eat too many!
27. Gateway to Heaven — 
A rhyme that makes us think of the pearly gates of Heaven.
28. Overweight — 
Rhyming slang that perhaps also plays on the number eight looking like an overweight person.
29. Rise and Shine — 
Rhyming slang that is perfect for a cheerful morning wake-up call.
30. Dirty Gertie — 
Dirty Gertie is the nickname for the statue La Délivrance, a bronze sculpture of a naked lady installed in North London in 1927. There was also a song called Dirty Gertie, which was popular with soldiers during WWII.
31. Get Up and Run — 
A rhyme that encourages us to put on our trainers and get going!
32. Buckle My Shoe — 
A nostalgic nursery rhyme that helps teach children how to count.
33. Dirty Knee — 
A simple rhyme - perhaps you had dirty knees when you played outside as a child?
34. Ask for More — 
Maybe this would have been Oliver Twist’s favourite bingo call?
35. Jump and Jive — 
Jiving is an energetic dance style that first became popular in the 1930s.
36. Three Dozen — 
3 x 12 = 36 (the maths is getting a little more complicated now!).
37. More than 11 — 
Rhyming slang that is factually correct, if a little random!
38. Christmas Cake — 
A festive tradition that is the perfect dessert after Christmas dinner.
39. Steps — 
In reference to the popular book, film and musical The 39 Steps.
40. Naughty 40 — 
Rhyming slang that suggests that 40 is a great age to be!
41. Time for Fun — 
A rhyme that describes how we feel when we play online bingo!
42. Winnie the Pooh — 
Everybody’s favourite bear, who has a famous love of honey.
43. Down on Your Knees — 
Apparently a phrase that was made popular by soldiers during the war.
44. Droopy Drawers — 
Some say that the two numbers look like a pair of sagging trousers!
45. Halfway There — 
Referring to the fact that there are 90 bingo balls (and bingo calls) in a traditional bingo game.
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Bingo Fun Fact! Bingo was originally called ‘Beano’ because players used dried beans to cover squares that they had marked off. Rumour has it that it turned into bingo when a player mistakenly shouted ‘Bingo!’ instead of ‘Beano!’ |
46. Up to Tricks — 
Rhyming slang suggesting that someone has been doing something naughty.
47. Four and Seven — 
I guess they were running out of inspiration with this one!
48. Four Dozen — 
You know the drill - 4 x 12 = 48
49. PC — 
The Adventures of PC 49 was a popular radio series and film that followed Police Constable 49.
50. Half a Century — 
This one is pretty straightforward - 50 is half of 100.
51. Tweak of the Thumb — 
As well as rhyming with fifty-one, this phrase has a similar meaning to ‘in the blink of an eye.’
52. Danny La Rue — 
Danny La Rue was a famous drag performer and entertainer in the 60s and 70s.
53. Stuck in the Tree — 
A simple rhyme about something you may have experienced when you were younger!
54. Clean the Floor — 
Possibly the only cleaning-related bingo call on our list.
55. Snakes Alive — 
A visual bingo call that refers to the two fives resembling snakes.
56. Was She Worth It? — 
A marriage licence used to cost five shillings and sixpence (like the currency, this bingo call seems rather outdated today!).
57. Heinz Varieties — 
Heinz market themselves as having ‘57 varieties’ - but a little sleuthing reveals that it is nothing more than a combination of the lucky numbers of H. J. Heinz and his wife!
58. Make Them Wait — 
Are you always on time, or do you make people wait?
59. Brighton Line — 
The origins of this one aren’t clear, but it could be a reference to train line 59 that ran from London to Brighton.
60. Five Dozen — 
5 x 12 = 60, of course!
61. Bakers Bun — 
Rhyming slang that has got us thinking of our favourite sweet treats.
62. Turn the Screw — 
Can refer to putting pressure on someone (and winding them up like an old-fashioned toy).
63. Tickle Me — 
One for all the ticklish folk out there!
64. Red Raw — 
An unpleasant feeling that rhymes with 64.
65. Old Age Pension — 
Used to be the retirement age in the UK.
66. Clickety Click — 
Perhaps based on the nose a train makes - or a computer mouse!
67. Made in Heaven — 
A simple rhyme with a heavenly theme.
68. Saving Grace — 
This one kind of works - if you can make ‘grace’ rhyme with ‘eight’, that is!
69. Either Way Up — 
Refers to the shape of the numbers six and nine.
70. Three Score and 10 — 
A rather old-fashioned way of saying 70 (three score = 60).
71. Bang on the Drum — 
Rhyming slang for the music fans out there.
72. Six Dozen — 
You guessed it… 6 x 12 = 72
73. Queen Bee — 
Probably intended to refer to the animal kingdom - but perhaps it could also be Beyonce?
74. Candy Store — 
The American term for what us Brits would call a sweet shop.
75. Strive and Strive — 
For the hard-working people out there.
76. Trombones — 
This bingo call is inspired by the song ‘76 Trombones’ from 1957 musical The Music Man.
77. Sunset Strip — 
77 Sunset Strip was a popular crime drama in the late 1950s.
78. Heaven’s Gate — 
Rhyming slang referring to the pearly gates of Heaven.
79. One More Time — 
I didn’t quite catch that - could you say it one more time?
80. Eight and Blank — 
Visually, an eight and a ‘blank’ (or zero) make up the number eighty.
81. Stop and Run — 
Rhyming slang that leaves us unsure whether we’re coming or going.
82. Straight On Through — 
A simple rhyme that is quite fun to say.
83. Time for Tea — 
Depending on where you live in the UK, you might call the evening meal ‘dinner’ or ‘tea’.
84. Seven Dozen — 
7 x 12 = 84 (no surprises here!).
85. Staying Alive — 
A reference to everyone’s favourite Bee Gees song.
86. Between the Sticks — 
A rhyme that is perhaps most suitable for goalkeepers.
87. Torquay in Devon — 
A classic British holiday destination - and the home of Basil Fawlty.
88. Two Fat Ladies — 
One of most well-known bingo calls. The shape of the eights resemble the head and body of a plumper lady!
89. Nearly There — 
That’s right - we’ve almost reached the last bingo call!
90. Top of the Shop — 
The number ninety is ‘Top of the Shop’, or the highest number in bingo.
Whew! I’m exhausted after that bumper list of bingo calls. I wonder how many you can remember? If you’d like a copy of the list in PDF format, you can download it and refer to it whenever you need it.
Download the Bingo List PDF here.
The History of Bingo Calls
Much of the rhyming slang that makes up today’s bingo calls was originally used in London in the mid-20th century as a way to pass on secret messages without being detected!
Some bingo calls have their roots in military terms, since the game was played by servicemen during World War II.
After the war, the ex-soldiers continued to play the game back at home and its popularity steadily increased in the UK. It was played in bingo halls up and down the country, and today it remains one of the UK’s most popular games – both online and offline!
Although many of the original bingo calls are still used today, there are some modern ones that relate to people and cultural events you may be more familiar with.
In the next section we’re going to take a look at some of those modern bingo calls. Perhaps you could even invent some of your own!
Modern Bingo Calls
Some of the modern bingo calls in the list below refer to pop stars and footballers, while others use new vocabulary that has become widespread in the age of technology (for example, 99 = Selfie Time).
Others are a little more dated, but we reckon you’ll still know who they are or what they mean.
Keep reading for a list of 23 modern bingo calls that you can use to impress your bingo mates!
Note that the numbers in brackets are the number they refer to, e.g. ‘One Direction. (1)’ means that the One Direction bingo call is used for number one.
91. One Direction —
In reference to the heartthrob boy band.
92. Doctor Who —
Everyone’s favourite doctor and his famous TARDIS.
93. I’m Free, Debbie McGee —
The wife and assistant of the late magician Paul Daniels.
94. Bobby Moore —
Legendary England football captain. (Perhaps Luke Shaw would be an even more modern choice?)
95. Little Mix —
Pop girl group with lots of catchy tunes.
96. David Beckham —
Of course, the famous Golden Balls had to be number seven.
97. Tinder Date —
The infamous dating app for finding love.
98. Selfie Time —
It’s time to take a selfie!
99. Eyebrows on Fleek —
Slang that means your eyebrows are looking great.
100. Yass Queen —
A phrase made popular by drag queens.
101. Tay Tay —
A reference to Taylor Swift and her pop tune ‘22’.
102. Lads on Tour —
Have you ever been on a wild weekend away with the boys? Or even the girls?
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Bingo Fun Fact! Bingo isn’t just for grannies!Although some people think that playing bingo goes hand-in-hand with a blue rinse and drawing your pension, statistics show that over one third of online bingo players are aged between 25-34! |
103. Adele —
Referring to Adele’s third album, which is called ‘25’.
104. Hipster Heaven —
The skinny-jeaned crew that love hanging out in coffee shops and record stores.
105. Jimmy Choo —
High-end shoes loved by celebrities.
106. Tag a Mate —
Referring to the option to tag a friend on social media.
107. Amazon Prime —
The delivery service that offers speedy delivery of anything you need.
108. Chicken Vindaloo —
A spicy curry that is not for the faint-hearted.
109. Here Comes Herbie —
A VW Beetle that was the star of its own films, with the number 53 painted on it.
110. The Beatles —
In reference to their light-hearted tune ‘When I’m 64.’
111. Historic US Route —
Infamous highway in the States that runs from Chicago to California.
112. J-Lo’s Bum —
Jennifer Lopez and her famous derriere.
113. Wills and Kate —
The future king and his wife.
Still hungry for more bingo calls? Read our blog on funny bingo calls - some of which will be familiar from this list!
Bingo Calls in Online Bingo
Although it’s by no means necessary to learn the bingo calls to play online bingo (or offline bingo, for that matter), these fun phrases add an extra dimension to the game. You can use them to interact with other players in our fun bingo chat rooms, and you could even try coming up with your own unique bingo calls! Legs fifteen, anyone?! Maybe we still need some practice…
The Best Online Bingo Games at Slingo!
Here at Slingo we have a fantastic selection of online bingo games, from 75 ball bingo game Country Roads to supersized prizes in Heavyweight Bingo.
Find out more about some of our favourites below:
Country Roads Bingo
75-ball bingo has taken the US by storm. Our Country Roads 75 ball game has fewer balls than traditional 90 ball bingo games, creating a faster bingo game with both progressive and community jackpots.
And with prizes for specific patterns as well as One Line and Full House, you just might be a lucky winner! Country Roads is also designed with mobile users in mind, making it ideal for those who like to play on the go.
Boom Box Bingo
We’re taking it back to the 80s with Boom Box, the 80 ball bingo game that makes us want to whip out our shoulder pads all over again!
Boom Box has fewer balls than traditional 90 ball bingo games, creating a faster bingo game that’s optimised for on-the-go gaming. Play Boom Box to get the party started!
Heavy Weight Bingo
Could you be the Heavy Weight champion? This exciting 90 ball bingo room offers a massive prize pot and is open all day every day for pre-buy, until the big game itself at 9pm. With prizes for One Line, Two Lines and Full House, there’s never a dull moment in this high-energy bingo game! Heavy Weight is also designed with mobile users in mind, making it ideal for those who like to play on the go.
Play Bingo Online at the Official Slingo Site
Now you can talk the talk, it’s time to walk the walk! Practise your new bingo lingo and play online bingo at Slingo.com, where you can find a great selection of bingo games and rooms to choose from. Ready to hit the floor (74)? Play online bingo now!
