Bingo is a game that’s been played around the world for decades upon decades, with no sign of stopping any time soon. Bingo is a game that is easy to learn but difficult to master. One of the reasons for Bingo’s popularity is that anyone can play, regardless of age.
First starting out in Bingo halls, online Bingo is now the most popular way to daub away your numbers. Although this is the case, brick-and-mortar Bingo halls are still as popular as ever, with many welcoming players regularly through their doors.
With this in mind, we wanted to explore the calls of the Bingo world, and the meanings behind each call for numbers one to thirty.
Are you ready to get calling?
- Kelly’s Eye – The call is a reference to Ned Kelly, from Ned Kelly’s helmet where the eye slot resembled number one.
- One Little Duck – Plays on the idea that the number two looks like a duck.
- Cup of Tea – Simply because it rhymes with three.
- Knock at the Door – Simply because it rhymes with four.
- Man Alive – Simply because it rhymes with five.
- Half a Dozen – A common phrase referring to the idea that a dozen is 12, so half a dozen is six.
- Tom Mix – Pays homage to a cockney rhyming slang term for six.
- Lucky – In many cultures around the world, the number seven is considered to be very lucky.
- Garden Gate – Simply because it rhymes with eight.
- Doctor’s Orders – Pays homage to the laxative pill given out by army doctors in WWII called Number Nine.
- (Current Prime Minister’ first name)’s Den – Refers to the home of the UK Prime Minter, 10 Downing Street.
- Legs Eleven – Plays on the idea that the number resembles a pair of legs. It’s common to hear players reply to this call with a wolf whistle.
- One Dozen – Refers to the fact a dozen is made up of 12 units.
- Unlucky for Some – In many cultures, the number 13 is considered unlucky.
- Valentine’s Day – Reference to Valentine’s Day falling on February 14th each year.
- Young and Keen – Simply because it rhymes with 15.
- Never been kissed – Pays homage to the song ‘Sweet Sixteen and Never Been Kissed’.
- Dancing Queen – Refers to the ABBA lyrics of Dancing Queen and the mention of the number 17.
- Coming of Age – Refers to the fact that in the UK, 18 is seen as the start of adulthood.
- Goodbye Teens – Refers to the idea that 19 is the last year of someone’s teenage years.
- One Score – Refers to the idea of there being 20 units to a score.
- Key of the Door / Key to the Door – This used to be seen as the legal age of adulthood in the UK.
- Two Little Ducks – Again, plays on the idea that the number two resembles a duck. It’s common to hear players reply to the call with “Quack, Quack, Quack”.
- The Lord is my Shepherd – Refers to the first words of Psalm 23 of the Old Testament.
- Thee and Me – Simply because it rhymes with 23.
- Two Dozen – Refers to 12 being a dozen, two lots of 12 is 24.
- Duck and Dive – Simply because it rhymes with 25.
- Half a Crown – Pays homage to the old UK currency, where half a crown was written 2/6.
- Gateway to heaven – Simply because it rhymes with 27.
- In a State – Refers to ‘two and eight’ is rhyming slang for the state.
- Rise and Shine – Simply because it rhymes with 29.
- Dirty Gertie – pays homage to a wartime song.
Now you know the meaning behind calls one to thirty, will you be listening out for them more in your next game of Bingo?