Bingo calls are one of the most distinctive and charming features of British bingo. Rather than simply announcing a number, the caller recites a nickname — a rhyme, visual association, or cultural reference — that gives each number its own personality. These calls serve practical purposes too: rhymes and phrases help players confirm the number in a noisy hall, and the call-and-response tradition creates the social energy that defines bingo.
The tradition dates back decades, with many calls rooted in Cockney rhyming slang, wartime humor, and visual descriptions of the digits themselves.
Complete List of Traditional Bingo Calls
Numbers 1–10
Number
Call
Origin
1
Kelly’s Eye
Named after Ned Kelly, the Australian outlaw, who had one eye visible through his helmet. Also refers to a one-eyed figure in military bingo.
2
One Little Duck
The number 2 looks like a duck floating on water.
3
Cup of Tea
Rhymes with three.
4
Knock at the Door
Rhymes with four.
5
Man Alive
Rhymes with five.
6
Tom Mix / Half a Dozen
Tom Mix was a famous cowboy film star. Also simply “half a dozen.”
7
Lucky Seven
Seven has been considered a lucky number across many cultures.
8
Garden Gate
Rhymes with eight.
9
Doctor’s Orders
Number 9 was a pill (a laxative) given by military doctors in World War II.
10
Boris’s Den / (Prime Minister’s) Downing Street
A reference to 10 Downing Street. The first name changes with the current PM.
Numbers 11–20
Number
Call
Origin
11
Legs Eleven
The two 1s resemble a pair of legs. Players often respond with a wolf whistle.
12
One Dozen
Twelve items make a dozen.
13
Unlucky for Some
Thirteen is traditionally considered unlucky.
14
Valentine’s Day
February 14th is Valentine’s Day.
15
Young and Keen
Rhymes with fifteen.
16
Sweet Sixteen
A Coming-of-age milestone.
17
Dancing Queen
From the ABBA song — “You are the dancing queen, young and sweet, only seventeen.”
18
Coming of Age
Eighteen is the legal age of adulthood in the UK.
19
Goodbye Teens
The last teenage year.
20
One Score
Twenty is one score in traditional counting.
Numbers 21–30
Number
Call
Origin
21
Royal Salute / Key of the Door
A 21-gun salute and the traditional age for receiving a house key.
22
Two Little Ducks
The two 2s look like a pair of ducks. Players often respond “quack quack.”
23
Thee and Me
Rhymes with twenty-three.
24
Two Dozen
Twenty-four equals two dozen.
25
Duck and Dive
Rhymes with twenty-five.
26
Pick and Mix
Rhymes with twenty-six.
27
Gateway to Heaven
Rhymes with twenty-seven.
28
In a State / Overweight
Rhymes with twenty-eight.
29
Rise and Shine
Rhymes with twenty-nine.
30
Dirty Gertie / Burlington Bertie
Rhyming slang. Also a revue character.
Numbers 31–40
Number
Call
Origin
31
Get Up and Run
Rhymes with thirty-one.
32
Buckle My Shoe
Rhymes with thirty-two.
33
Dirty Knee / All the Threes
Visual: two 3s. Rhymes with thirty-three.
34
Ask for More
Rhymes with thirty-four.
35
Jump and Jive
Rhymes with thirty-five.
36
Three Dozen
Thirty-six equals three dozen.
37
More Than Eleven
A playful reference.
38
Christmas Cake
Rhymes with thirty-eight.
39
Steps
A reference to the book and film “The 39 Steps.”
40
Naughty Forty / Life Begins
Forty is said to be when life begins.
Numbers 41–50
Number
Call
Origin
41
Time for Fun
Rhymes with forty-one.
42
Winnie the Pooh
Rhymes with forty-two.
43
Down on Your Knees
Rhymes with forty-three.
44
Droopy Drawers
Rhyming slang for forty-four. Also “all the fours.”
45
Halfway There
Halfway through the 90 numbers.
46
Up to Tricks
Rhymes with forty-six.
47
Four and Seven
Straightforward description.
48
Four Dozen
Forty-eight equals four dozen.
49
PC / Copper
From the TV show “The Bill.” Also a reference to the 49ers.
50
Half a Century / Bulls Eye
Fifty is half of 100, and a bullseye in darts.
Numbers 51–60
Number
Call
Origin
51
Tweak of the Thumb
Rhymes with fifty-one.
52
Danny La Rue
Rhymes with fifty-two. Named after the famous entertainer.
53
Stuck in the Tree
Rhymes with fifty-three.
54
Clean the Floor
Rhymes with fifty-four.
55
All the Fives
Double five.
56
Was She Worth It?
A reference to an old marriage license cost of five shillings and sixpence (5/6).
57
Heinz Varieties
Heinz famously marketed 57 varieties of products.
58
Make Them Wait
Rhymes with fifty-eight.
59
Brighton Line
A reference to the number 59 bus or train to Brighton.
60
Five Dozen
Sixty equals five dozen.
Numbers 61–70
Number
Call
Origin
61
Baker’s Bun
Rhymes with sixty-one.
62
Turn the Screw
Rhymes with sixty-two.
63
Tickle Me
Rhymes with sixty-three.
64
Red Raw
Rhymes with sixty-four.
65
Old Age Pension
Sixty-five was the traditional UK retirement age.
66
Clickety Click
Rhymes and sound effect for sixty-six.
67
Stairway to Heaven
Rhymes with sixty-seven.
68
Saving Grace
Rhymes with sixty-eight.
69
Either Way Up
The number looks the same upside down. Also “meal for two.”
70
Three Score and Ten
A biblical lifespan reference.
Numbers 71–80
Number
Call
Origin
71
Bang on the Drum
Rhymes with seventy-one.
72
Six Dozen
Seventy-two equals six dozen.
73
Queen Bee
Rhymes with seventy-three.
74
Hit the Floor
Rhymes with seventy-four.
75
Strive and Strive
Rhymes with seventy-five.
76
Trombones
From “Seventy-Six Trombones” in the musical The Music Man.
77
Sunset Strip
From the TV show “77 Sunset Strip.” Also “all the sevens.”
78
Heaven’s Gate
Rhymes with seventy-eight.
79
One More Time
Rhymes with seventy-nine.
80
Eight and Blank / Gandhi’s Breakfast
Humorous reference: ate nothing (8-0).
Numbers 81–90
Number
Call
Origin
81
Stop and Run
Rhymes with eighty-one.
82
Straight On Through
Rhymes with eighty-two.
83
Time for Tea
Rhymes with eighty-three.
84
Seven Dozen
Eighty-four equals seven dozen.
85
Staying Alive
Rhymes with eighty-five.
86
Between the Sticks
Rhyming slang for eighty-six.
87
Torquay in Devon
Rhymes with eighty-seven.
88
Two Fat Ladies
The two 8s look like two large figures side by side. One of the most beloved calls.
89
Nearly There
The second-to-last number.
90
Top of the Shop
The highest number in 90-ball bingo.
The Call-and-Response Tradition
Bingo calls are not a monologue — they are a dialogue. When the caller announces “two little ducks,” the hall responds “quack quack.” When “legs eleven” rings out, a collective whistle or cheer often follows. This call-and-response dynamic is central to the social experience of bingo and one of the reasons the game feels so different from other forms of gambling.
Modern Updates
Some traditional calls have been updated or replaced over the years to reflect changing sensitivities and cultural references. Halls occasionally introduce topical or humorous alternatives, especially for numbers without strong traditional nicknames. The core rhyming calls, however, have remained remarkably stable — proof that a good rhyme is hard to retire.
Why Calls Matter
Beyond entertainment, bingo calls provide auditory redundancy. In a crowded hall, hearing “two fat ladies” confirms “88” more clearly than the number alone. The nickname acts as a second signal, reducing the chance of mishearing a call. This practical function is the reason calls have endured even as technology has made them less necessary.
Whether you are sitting in a packed hall or playing in an online room, the calls connect you to a tradition that stretches back generations. They are the soundtrack of bingo.
