Bingo Lingo: Master All 90 Slang Terms and Their Origins

Bingo, a game that's a crowd-pleaser right here in New Zealand, is more than just calling out numbers – it's a fun community with its own unique lingo. This post dives into the awesome world of Bingo slangs, exploring all 90 terms and what they mean, to add an extra layer of enjoyment to your next Bingo session!

1-10: Getting Started

1. Kelly's Eye: This refers to the number 1, often linked to the notorious Australian outlaw Ned Kelly and his lone eye.
2. One Little Duck: Looks like a number 2, and as simple as saying 'quack quack!'
3. Cup of Tea: A classic British reference for the number 3, especially handy if you're having a cuppa.
4. Knock at the Door: This rhymes with four, like a knock signalling someone's arrived.
5. Man Alive: Rhyming with five, it's an exclamation of surprise or excitement.
6. Tom Mix: A rhyme for six, named after a famous early Hollywood cowboy.
7. Lucky Seven: Seven is famously lucky, no matter where you are in the world.
8. Garden Gate: Rhymes with eight. You might also hear 'Don't be late!'
9. Doctor's Orders: During WWII, army doctors sometimes prescribed number 9 pills.
10. Boris's Den: Ten refers to 10 Downing Street, the UK Prime Minister's official home.

11-20: The Teens and Twenties

1. Legs Eleven: The number 11, with its two 'legs' often getting a bit of a cheeky whistle!
2. One Dozen: A common way to refer to twelve.
3. Unlucky for Some: Thirteen has a worldwide reputation for being unlucky.
4. Valentine’s Day: A sweet nickname for the 14th, the day of love.
5. Young and Keen: Fifteen rhymes with 'keen', suggesting youthful energy.
6. Sweet Sixteen: A milestone birthday, often celebrated with parties.
7. Dancing Queen: A nod to the famous ABBA song, celebrating the number 17.
8. Coming of Age: Eighteen is the age of adulthood in many places.
9. Goodbye Teens: Nineteen, marking the end of teenage years.
10. One Score: A 'score' is an older term for twenty.

21-30: What's the Story?

1. Key of the Door: Signifies turning 21, a traditional age for full independence.
2. Two Little Ducks: Resembling a pair of ducks, so you'll hear 'quack quack!'
3. Thee and Me: A simple rhyme for twenty-three.
4. Two Dozen: Exactly twenty-four, as in two sets of twelve.
5. Duck and Dive: This rhymes with twenty-five.
6. Pick and Mix: A tasty rhyme for twenty-six.
7. Gateway to Heaven: Rhymes with twenty-seven, a popular call.
8. In a State: Rhymes with twenty-eight, suggesting a bit of excitement.
9. Rise and Shine: A cheerful rhyme for twenty-nine.
10. Dirty Gertie: A classic called out for thirty, inspired by a wartime song.

31-40: Life's Milestones

1. Get Up and Run: A rhyme with thirty-one.
2. Buckle My Shoe: From the nursery rhyme (32).
3. All the Threes: Visually, three threes.
4. Ask for More: Rhymes with thirty-four.
5. Jump and Jive: A dance move, rhyming with thirty-five.
6. Three Dozen: A simple count.
7. More Than Eleven: Rhymes with thirty-seven.
8. Christmas Cake: Rhyming slang for thirty-eight.
9. Steps: Referring to the 1935 Hitchcock film, 'The 39 Steps.'
10. Naughty Forty: A playful term for turning forty.

41-50: The Midlife

1. Time for Fun: Rhyming with forty-one.
2. Winnie the Pooh: The famous bear, rhyming with forty-two.
3. Down on Your Knees: Rhymes with forty-three.
4. Droopy Drawers: Resembling the shape of the numbers.
5. Halfway There: Half of ninety, the highest bingo number.
6. Up to Tricks: Rhymes with forty-six.
7. Four and Seven: A straightforward call.
8. Four Dozen: Again, a simple count.
9. PC: Referring to the British police constable, '49' being their code.
10. Half a Century: Fifty years, a significant milestone.

51-60: The Road to Retirement

1. Tweak of the Thumb: Rhymes with fifty-one.
2. Danny La Rue: A famous drag artist, rhyming with fifty-two.
3. Stuck in the Tree: Rhymes with fifty-three.
4. Clean the Floor: Rhyming with fifty-four.
5. Snakes Alive: Resembling snakes, rhymes with fifty-five.
6. Was She Worth It?: Refers to the 5 shillings and 6 pence marriage license cost.
7. Heinz Varieties: Refers to the '57 varieties' in Heinz's advertising.
8. Make Them Wait: Rhymes with fifty-eight.
9. Brighton Line: Referring to the London to Brighton train.
10. Five Dozen: A straightforward count.

61-70: The Golden Years

1. Baker's Bun: Rhymes with sixty-one.
2. Turn the Screw: Rhyming with sixty-two.
3. Tickle Me: Rhymes with sixty-three.
4. Red Raw: Rhyming with sixty-four.
5. Old Age Pension: The traditional age for retirement.
6. Clickety Click: Resembling the click of knitting needles.
7. Stairway to Heaven: Rhymes with sixty-seven.
8. Saving Grace: Rhyming with sixty-eight.
9. Either Way Up: The number looks the same upside down.
10. Three Score and Ten: Biblically, the lifespan of a human (70 years).

71-80: The Sunset Strip

1. Bang on the Drum: Rhymes with seventy-one.
2. Six Dozen: A straightforward count.
3. Queen Bee: Rhyming with seventy-three.
4. Candy Store: Rhymes with seventy-four.
5. Strive and Strive: Rhyming with seventy-five.
6. Trombones: From the song '76 Trombones' in the musical 'The Music Man.'
7. Sunset Strip: A famous area in Los Angeles, and also resembles two sevens.
8. Heaven’s Gate: Rhyming with seventy-eight.
9. One More Time: Rhymes with seventy-nine.
10. Eight and Blank: Rhyming with eighty.

81-90: The Final Countdown

1. Stop and Run: Rhymes with eighty-one.
2. Straight On Through: Rhyming with eighty-two.
3. Time for Tea: Rhyming with eighty-three.
4. Seven Dozen: A simple count.
5. Staying Alive: From the Bee Gees song, rhyming with eighty-five.
6. Between the Sticks: Rhymes with eighty-six, goalie reference.
7. Torquay in Devon: Rhyming with eighty-seven, a place in the UK.
8. Two Fat Ladies: Resembling the shape of the numbers.
9. Nearly There: Just one short of the top number.
10. Top of the Shop: The highest number in bingo, signaling the end.

There you have it, all 90 Bingo slangs! Each one is a little slice of history, culture, or just plain fun. Next time you're dabbing your way through a Bingo game, remember these slangs and add a bit of extra zest to your play!