In Bingo, each number has been given one or more affectionate nicknames. Bingo callers often uses these nicknames when they call out the numbers, so it’s good to know what they are. If a Bingo caller calls out “One hockey stick” or “Legs – they’re lovely”, will you think the caller has gone plain bonkers, or will you know that the number 7 is often called a “hockey stick” and that the number 11 is often called “legs”!
A lot of Bingo calls for numbers are based on the shape of the numbers – like “little duck” for the number 2. Other nicknames rhyme with the numbers, like “One little flea” for number 3.
Some Bingo calls have especially interesting origins. For instance, did you know that the number 9 is sometimes called “Doctor’s orders” because a pill known as “number nine” was often prescribed during World War II?
Getting to know the terms used in Bingo calling is part of the fun of playing and enjoying Bingo. For more fun terms used in Bingo calling, check our online Bingo Cockney rhyming slang terms.
List of Bingo Calls and Nicknames (1 – 90)
Two Little Ducks In Bingo Crossword Clue
1. Kelly’s eye (after one-eyed Australian gangster Ned Kelly), Little Jimmy, First on the board
2. Little duck, Me and you, Home alone, Peek a boo
3. One little flea, Cup of tea, Monkey on the tree
4. The one next door, On the floor, Shut the door
5. One little snake, Man alive
6. Chopsticks, Tom’s tricks, In a fix
7. Hockey stick, Crutch, Lucky seven, God’s in heaven, David Beckham
8. One fat lady, At the gate
9. Doctor’s orders
10. Downing street, Big fat hen, Cock and hen, Uncle Ben
11. Legs, Chicken legs, Skinny legs
12. One dozen, One doz’ if one can
13. Unlucky for some, Bakers’ dozen
14. Valentines day
15. Rugby team
16. Sweet sixteen, Never been kissed
17. Dancing queen (from the Abba song of the same name), Posh and Becks
18. Key of the door, Coming of age
19. Goodbye teens
20. Blind 20, One score
21. Royal salute, Key of the door
22. Two little ducks
23. A duck and a flea, The Lord’s my shepherd (from Psalm 23)
24. Two dozen
25. Duck and dive
26. Bed and breakfast (traditional price was 2 shillings 6 pence), Half a crown (equivalent to 2 shillings 6 pence)
27. Gateway to heaven, Little duck with a crutch
28. Duck and its mate
29. Rise and shine
30. Dirty Gertie, Speed limit
31. Get up and run
32. Buckle my Shoe
33. Two little fleas, Sherwood forest (all the trees)
34. Ask for more
35. Jump and jive, Flirty wives
36. Three dozen
37. A flea in heaven
38. Christmas cake
39. All the steps (from the 1935 Hitchcock film), Jack Benny
40. Two score, Life begins at, Naughty 40
41. Life’s begun, Time for fun
42. Whinny the Poo
43. Down on your knees
44. All the fours
45. Halfway house, Halfway there
46. Up to tricks
47. Four and seven
48. Four dozen
49. PC (for police constable), Copper
50. Bulls eye, Half a century, Hawaii five O
51. I love my mum
52. Weeks in a year, Pack ‘o cards
53. Stuck in the tree, The joker
54. Clean the floor
55. Snakes alive, All the fives
56. Was she worth it? (From the original price of a wedding contract)
57. Heinz varieties, All the beans
58. Make them wait, Choo choo Thomas
59. Brighton line (the London-Brighton engine was number 59)
60. Three score, Five dozen
61. Bakers bun
62. Tickety boo, Turn on the screw
63. Tickle me
64. The Beatles number, Red raw
65. Old age pension
66. Clickety click, All the sixes
67. Made in heaven
68. Saving grace
69. Either way up, The French connection
70. Three score and ten
71. Bang on the drum, Lucky one
72. A crutch and a duck, Par for the course (from golf)
73. Crutch with a flea, Lucky three
74. Candy store, Grandmamma of Bingo, Lucky four
75. Granddaddy of Bingo, Lucky five
76. Trombones, Lucky six
77. All the sevens, Two little crutches, The double hockey stick, Lucky seven
78. Heavens gate, Lucky eight
79. Lucky nine
80. Gandhi’s breakfast, Eight and blank
81. Fat lady and a little wee, Stop and run
82. Fat lady with a duck, Straight on through
83. Fat lady with a flea, Time for tea, Ethel’s Ear
84. Seven dozen
85. Staying alive
86. Between the sticks
87. Fat lady with a crutch
88. Two fat ladies, Wobbly wobbly, All the eights
89. Nearly there, All but one
90. Top of the shop, Top of the house, End of the line
Download/Stream Five Little Ducks the Super Simple App! Two Little Ducks Two little ducks is the bingo lingo call for the number 22. The reason for this is that the numbers have more than a passing similarity to a pair of ducks. When called the standard response from the bingo players is “Quack, Quack, Quack”. Bingo Lingo can be confusing at times and that’s not how you want to be when you’re enjoying yourself online and trying to win some goodies. Number calls in Bingo have been a stable since its beginning in British bingo halls. Online bingo is no different – don’t know your “two fat ladies” from your “two little ducks?”.
- Bingo terms are a real melting pot of cultural references, simple rhymes and other categories. Some of the best known bingo calls are based on the shape of the numbers such as Legs 11, Two Little Ducks (22), Droopy Drawers (44) and Two Little Crutches (77).
- The perfect Ducks Timberlina Bingo Animated GIF for your conversation. Discover and Share the best GIFs on Tenor.
The list below shows the nickname of each bingo number with variants. Remember that no list is definitive and some nicknames may not make sense. If you are planning to make up a list of nicknames for use in a bingo hall or at home, choose the ones that most appeal to you. If you know of others to add, please email admin@ildado.com or use this online form.
Bingo play using nicknames persisted in British Bingo halls until faster computer draws replaced air-blown balls. This is a way of announcing or repeating the Bingo number drawn in a humorous way. In a crowded, noisy room, it also helps to confirm the number called.
The bingo game starts with the traditional call to attention: 'Eyes Down'.
See below for some nickname explanations.
1.... Kelly's eye - Buttered scone - At the beginning - Little Jimmy - Nelson's column - B1 Baby of bingo - First on the board - Number Ace - Son of a gun
2.... One little duck - Baby's done it - Doctor who - Me and you - Little boy blue - Home alone - Peek a boo
3.... Dearie me - I'm free - Debbie McGee - You and me - Goodness me - One little flea - Cup of tea - Monkey on the tree
4.... The one next door - On the floor - Knock at the door - B4 Crowd says 'and after' - Bobby Moore - Shut the door
5.... Man alive - Jack's alive - One little snake
6.... Tom Mix - Tom's tricks - Chopsticks - In a fix
7.... Lucky seven - God's in heaven - One little crutch - David Beckham - One hockey stick - A slice of heaven
8.... Garden gate - Golden gate - At the gate - Harry Tate - One fat lady - She's always late - Sexy Kate - Is she in yet - Wow, I could have had a B8 (USA)
9.... Doctor's orders - Dinner time
10.. Downing street - Cock and hen (rhyming) - Uncle Ben (rhyming) - A big fat hen - King blairs den
11.. Legs eleven - Legs - they're lovely - Kelly's legs number eleven - Chicken legs - Skinny legs
12.. One dozen - One and two - a dozen - Monkey's cousin (rhymes with 'a dozen') - One doz' if one can
13.. Unlucky for some - Devil's number - Bakers dozen
14.. Valentines day - Tender - Pork chops (USA)
15.. Rugby team - Young and keen - Yet to be kissed
16.. Sweet sixteen - She’s lovely - Never been kissed
17.. Often been kissed - Over-ripe - Old Ireland - Dancing queen - The age to catch ‘em - Posh and Becks
18.. Key of the door - Now you can vote - Coming of age
19.. Goodbye teens - Cuervo gold (USA)
20.. One score - Getting plenty - Blind 20
21.. Royal salute - Key of the door - If only I was.. - Just my age - At 21 watch your son
22.. Quack quack - Two little ducks (suggesting the necks of two swans) - Ducks on a pond - Dinky doo - All the twos - Bishop Desmond - Put your 22's on - Too[t] too[t] (train whistle)
23.. A duck and a flea - Thee and me - The Lord's my shepherd (based on 23rd Psalm) - A duck on a tree - Dr. Pepper (USA)
24.. Two dozen - Did you score? - Do you want some more?
25.. Duck and dive - At 25, wish to have wife
26.. Bed and breakfast (traditional price was 2 shillings 6 pence) - Half a crown (equivalent to 2 shillings 6 pence) - Pick and mix
27.. Little duck with a crutch - Gateway to heaven - Ugly ball (USA)
28.. In a state - The old brags - Over weight - Duck & its mate
29.. You’re doing fine - In your prime - Rise and shine
30.. Burlington Bertie - Dirty Gertie - Speed limit (in built-up area - UK) - Blind 30 - Flirty thirty - Your face is dirty - Tomato ball (USA)
31.. Get up and run
32.. Buckle my Shoe
33.. Dirty knees - All the feathers - All the threes - Gertie Lee - Two little fleas - Sherwood forest (all the trees)
34.. Ask for more
35.. Jump and jive - Flirty wives
36.. Three dozen - Perfect (as in 36-24-36) - Yardstick... he wishes! (USA)
37.. A flea in heaven - More than eleven
38.. Christmas cake
39.. Those famous steps - All the steps - Jack Benny
40.. Two score - Life begins at - Blind 40 - Naughty 40 - Mary (USA)
41.. Life’s begun - Time for fun
42.. That famous street in Manhattan - Whinny the Poo
43.. Down on your knees
44.. Droopy drawers - All the fours - Open two doors - Magnum (USA)
45.. Halfway house - Halfway there - Cowboy's friend - Colt (USA)
46.. Up to tricks
47.. Four and seven
48.. Four dozen
49.. PC (Police Constable) - Copper - Nick nick - Rise and shine
50.. Bulls eye - Bung hole - Blind 50 - Half a century - Snow White's number (five-oh - five-oh..) - Hawaii five O, Hawaii (USA)
51.. I love my mum - Tweak of the thumb - The Highland Div[ision] - President's salute
52.. Weeks in a year - The Lowland Div[ision] - Danny La Rue - Pack 'o cards - Pickup (USA)
53.. Stuck in the tree - The Welsh Div[ision] - The joker
54.. Clean the floor - House of bamboo (famous song)
55.. Snakes alive - All the fives - Double nickels - Give us fives - Bunch of fives
56.. Was she worth it?
57.. Heinz varieties - All the beans (Heinz 57 varieties of canned beans)
58.. Make them wait - Choo choo Thomas
59.. Brighton line (engine 59 or it took 59 mins to go from London to Brighton)
60.. Three score - Blind 60 - Five dozen
61.. Bakers bun
62.. Tickety boo - Turn on the screw
63.. Tickle me - Home ball (USA)
64.. The Beatles number - Red raw
65.. Old age pension - Stop work (retirement age)
66.. Clickety click - All the sixes - Quack quack (USA)
67.. Made in heaven - Argumentative number
68.. Saving grace - Check your weight
69.. The same both ways - Your place or mine? - Any way up - Either way up - Any way round - Meal for two - The French connection - Yum yum - Happy meal (USA)
70.. Three score and ten - Blind 70 - Big O (USA)
71.. Bang on the drum - Lucky one
72.. A crutch and a duck - Six dozen - Par for the course (golf) - Lucky two
73.. Crutch with a flea - Queen B - Under the tree - Lucky three
74.. Candy store - Grandmamma of Bingo - Lucky four
75.. Strive and strive - Big Daddy - Granddaddy of Bingo - Lucky five
76.. Trombones - Seven 'n' six - was she worth it? - Lucky six
77.. Sunset strip - All the sevens - Two little crutches - The double hockey stick - Lucky seven
78.. Heavens gate - Lucky eight
79.. One more time - Lucky nine
80.. Gandhi's breakfast - Blind 80 - Eight and blank - There you go matey
81.. Fat lady and a little wee - Stop and run - Corner shot
82.. Fat lady with a duck - Straight on through
83.. Fat lady with a flea - Time for tea - Ethel's Ear
84.. Seven dozen
85.. Staying alive
86.. Between the sticks
87.. Fat lady with a crutch - Torquay in Devon
88.. Two fat ladies - Wobbly wobbly - All the eights
89.. Nearly there - All but one
90.. Top of the shop - Top of the house - Blind 90 - As far as we go - End of the line
1Kelly's eye: In reference to the one-eyed Australian bushranger gangster Ned Kelly. (Note: apparently this explanation is incorrect. A viewer from Australia sent this message: 'Ned Kelly didn't have one eye! He didn't even lose an eye in the shoot out at Glenrowan. And when he was wearing his helmet, you couldn't even see his eyes through the slot.' But another Australian viewer sent this explanation: 'The reason for 'Kellys eye' may have been referring to Ned Kelly's helmet, which had one large slot for his eyes that looked like one eye.')
2One little duck: The shape looks a bit like a swan.
3One little flea: Looks a bit like a flea.
7One little crutch: Looks like a crutch.
8One fat lady: Resembles the two halves of a large lady.
9Doctor's orders: A pill known as Number 9 was a laxative given out by army doctors in Britain. Apparently in the second world war in Britain doctors wrote on sick notes a 9 pm curfew, thus if patients were found out of their homes after that time they were violating their sick note. (Provided by a visitor)
The curfew story's not true. In the Great War, however, there was such a thing as a 'number nine' pill, that was freely prescribed for virtually everything. (Provided by another visitor)
10Downing street: UK Prime Minister's address, 10 Downing Street.
12Royal salute: As in, a 21-gun salute for a Royal birthday or other celebration.
13Bakers Dozen: Bakers in olden times used to make one extra piece of bread/cookie etc to the dozen ordered by a customer so they could do a taste test before it was sold to the customer, hence the phrase.
17Dancing queen: From the Abba song of the same name. Over-ripe: Opposite of tender; 14 and 17 straddle 16 which is sweet!
23Lord's My Shepherd: From Psalm 23.
26Bed and breakfast: Traditionally the cost of a nights' lodgings was 2 shillings sixpence, or two and six.
26Half a crown: Equivalent to 2'6d. Or two and six.
39The famous steps; all the steps: From the 1935 Hitchcock film
59The Brighton Line: The London-Brighton service was no. 59.
65Old age pension: 'Pension' age in the UK is at the age of 65.
76Seven 'n' six - was she worth it?: The price of the marrige licence, seven shillings and six pence.
A marriage license may have been 7/6 (37.5p in new money) once upon a time, but 7/6 was more recently the cost of a 'short time' with a lady of negotiable affection.... (Provided by a visitor)
78Heavens gate: it rhymes: heaven-seven, gate-eight.
80Gandhi's breakfast: in reference to Ghandi’s famous peace protest, in which he abstained from food - Imagine him sitting crosslegged with a big empty plate in front of him, looking from above. Another suggested explanation: ate (8) nothing (0).
81Corner shot: Generally used in Military clubs tambola aka housie in India; origin unknown.
83Ethel's Ear: Fat lady beside ear-shaped three.
(Above explanations are courtesy of visitors' feedback and bbc.co.uk)
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