Bingo Calls
Bingo calls are the numbers that are drawn randomly during a game of bingo, over time bingo callers have developed rhyming slang for these numbers. This helps the bingo player remember what call was last, as the rhyme forms an association with the number. These calls sometimes change with the times, but the traditional list of calls goes something like this:
- Kelly's Eye
- One Little Duck
- Cup of tea
- Knock at the Door
- Man Alive
- Tom Nix
- God's in Heaven
- Garden Gate
- Doctor's Orders – In World War 2 the British pill “Number 9” was a laxative.
- Gordon's Den (changes with each Prime Minister).
- Legs Eleven
- One Dozen
- Unlucky for Some
- Valentines Day
- Young and keen
- Sweet Sixteen
- Dancing Queen
- Coming of Age
- Goodbye Teens
- One Score
- Key of the Door
- Two Little Ducks
- Thee and Me
- Two dozen
- 25 Duck and Dive
- Pick and Mix
- Gateway to Heaven
- Over Weight
- Rise and Shine
- Burlington Bertie
- Get up and Run
- Buckle my Shoe
- Dirty
- Ask for More
- Jump and Jive
- Three Dozen
- A Flea in Heaven
- Christmas Cake
- Those Famous Steps
- Naughty Forty
- Time for Fun
- Winnie the Pooh
- Down on your Knees
- Droopy Drawers
- Halfway There
- Up to Tricks
- Four and Seven
- Four Dozen
- P.C. Copper
- Half a Century
- Tweak of the Thumb
- Danny La Rue
- Stuck in the Tree
- Clean the Floor
- Snakes Alive
- Was she worth it?
- Heinz Varieties
- Make them Wait
- Brighton Line - The London to Brighton bus service was the number 59.
- Five Dozen
- Bakers Bun
- Turn on the Screw
- Tickle Me
- Red Raw
- Old Age Pension - The age of retirement in the UK.
- Clickety Click
- Made in Heaven
- Saving Grace
- Meal for Two
- Three Score and Ten
- Bang on the Drum
- Six Dozen
- Queen Bee
- Candy Store
- Strive and Strive
- Was She Worth It - The cost of a wedding license used to be 7 shillings and sixpence.
- All the Sevens
- Heavens Gate
- One More Time
- Eight and Blank
- Stop and Run
- Straight on Through
- Time for Tea
- Seven Dozen
- Staying Alive
- Between the Sticks
- Torquay in Devon
- Two fat ladies
- Nearly there
- Top of the Shop
Of course it is completely unnecessary to learn all of these calls before you are able to play bingo, but they do become familiar with time, and you will soon find yourself calling along.