Bingo Number-calling Nicknames 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 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 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 Explanations of some nicknames: 1 Kelly'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.") 2 One little duck: The shape looks a bit like a swan. 3 One little flea: Looks a bit like a flea. 7 One little crutch: Looks like a crutch. 8 One fat lady: Resembles the two halves of a large lady. 9 Doctor'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) 10 Downing street: UK Prime Minister's address, 10 Downing Street. 12 Royal salute: As in, a 21-gun salute for a Royal birthday or other celebration. 13 Bakers 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. 17 Dancing queen: From the Abba song of the same name. Over-ripe: Opposite of tender; 14 and 17 straddle 16 which is sweet! 23 Lord's My Shepherd: From Psalm 23. 26 Bed and breakfast: Traditionally the cost of a nights' lodgings was 2 shillings sixpence, or two and six. 26 Half a crown: Equivalent to 2'6d. Or two and six. 39 The famous steps; all the steps: From the 1935 Hitchcock film 59 The Brighton Line: The London-Brighton service was no. 59.

65 Old age pension: 'Pension' age in the UK is at the age of 65. 76 Seven '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) 78 Heavens gate: it rhymes: heaven-seven, gate-eight. 80 Gandhi'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). 81 Corner shot: Generally used in Military clubs tambola aka housie in India; origin unknown. 83 Ethel's Ear: Fat lady beside ear-shaped three. (Above explanations are courtesy of visitors' feedback and bbc.co.uk ) Bingo Rules . Glossary . * Nicknames . Tips . Strategy . Patterns . Books . Links .

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Bingo Nicknames in the UK Scotland Bingo UK Bingo Game Numbers and Nicknames Calling Playing bingo is one of the most popular pastimes in UK. For years bingo has been played at churches, social gatherings and has remained a mainstay of fund raising for several non-profit organizations. In the UK, bingo is played in large community halls with some decent prizes for the winners. Britishers play bingo in their own unique way. Bingo callers in the UK often use nicknames or other short rhyming descriptions to add an extra punch to the game. Bingo nickname s are a humorous way of announcing or repeating the drawn numbers, especially in a crammed, noisy hall where the audibility is already low. The game beings with a traditional call to attention – Eyes Down! Some other interesting and modern bingo nicknames are: Number Bingo number nicknames - looking for the origin of a few - can anyone help? Bingo number nicknames - looking for the origin of a few - can anyone help? 1 2 3 4 5 Anonymous: I am developing some tasks for my TEFL students that include playing Bingo - also known as Tombola (Royal Navy), Housey-Housey (British Army), and Lotto (shop-bought version).

To this end I have been developing a list of "number nicknames" that are used when calling out the numbers during play - e.g. "number eight - garden gate". There are many different nicknames used for each number - some dating from WWII and even different ones for different branches of the armed forces, and even some modern ones - e.g. "seventy-one" has changed recently from "bang on a drum" to a more modern "J-Lo's bum", in a reference to Jennifer Lopez's most famous asset. With some of the older ones I am having trouble in tracing the origins, or even checking the accuracy of the purported origin. I reproduce below some of the doubtful ones and would be grateful if anyone could throw any light upon the matter for me. Here we go: 1 - Kelly's eye (anyone know the origin? Who was one-eyed Kelly,anyway?) 9 - Doctor's joy (navy term for purgative pill, it appears. Why?) 11 - Kelly's legs (same Kelly as number 1?) 30 - Dirty Gertie (does she exist or is this just rhyme?), because...

30 - Burlington Gertie (also used and is a reference to the ditty"Burlington Gertie from Bow") 42 - Winnie the Pooh (just rhyming?) 50 - Snow White's number (said to be "five-oh, five-oh" - a mutationof "Hi-Ho, Hi-Ho"?) 56 - Was she worth it? (5/6d - WWII going rate for the services of aPompey *** (Portsmouth lady of the night). Can anyone confirm this? - the origin, not the price ;-) See also 76 58 - Choo-choo Thomas (... the Tank Engine? why?) 59 - Brighton line (some say train fare from London to Brighton was5/9d during WWII; others say 59 was the engine number of the first "Brighton Belle"?) 62 - To Waterloo (some say rail fare from Portsmouth to London duringWWII was 6/2d?) 73 - Queen B (just rhyming?) 75 - Big Daddy (why?) 76 - Seven 'n' six - was she worth it? (7/6d.

- the price of amarriage licence during WWII - compare with 56 - almost the same) 80 - Gandhi's breakfast (anyone know? I know that 10 in the Navy issailor's breakfast - a rasher of bacon with an egg, so what could the 8 be?) 83 - Ethel's ear, or is it 'ere (why?) I DO realize that the majority of these nicknames are not the most common, or usual, nickname for the respective number but these numbers ARE quoted in some sources and I AM trying to compile a fairly comprehensive list. Any help would be appreciated Many thanks Adjectives, colo(u)rs and numbers spoken here This thread originates from within 'usenet', and as such the content and users are not guaranteed to have been moderated by our community. Maria Conlon: I am developing some tasks for my TEFL students that include playing Bingo - also known as Tombola (Royal Navy), ... of "number nicknames" that are used when calling out the numbers during play - e.g. "number eight - garden gate". 75 - Big Daddy (why?) In U.S. Bingo, 75 is the largest number.

Thus, "Big Daddy" or "Old Man." Note: In U.S. Bingo, the letter is always called with the number. So 75 is O-75. B-12 The Vitamin Number. B-4 And after. G-55 Double nickel. I've forgotten most of the Bingo "number nicknames"; it's been many years since I've been to the church hall on Wednesday evening. But you mentioned 50 (Five Oh), and in our area, when G-50 was called, there was always someone who would yell out Five Oh, Jack. I don't know why unless it had something to do with Jack Lord in the "Hawaii Five O" TV show. Maria Conlon ... This thread originates from within 'usenet', and as such the content and users are not guaranteed to have been moderated by our community. Anonymous: 75 - Big Daddy (why?) In U.S. Bingo, 75 is the largest number. Thus, "Big Daddy" or "Old Man." Note: In U.S. Bingo, the letter is always called with the number. So 75 is O-75. Thanks - one solved!

B-12 The Vitamin Number. B-4 And after. G-55 Double nickel. I've forgotten most of the Bingo "number ... I don't know why unless it had something to do with Jack Lord in the "Hawaii Five O" TV show. Exactly - here's my 50 list: 50.. Bull's eye (darts), Blind 50, Half a century, Snow White's number(see notes), Hawaii Five-O (TV series) 55.. Snakes alive, All the fives, Double nickels, Give us fives, Bunchof fives Paulo ... This thread originates from within 'usenet', and as such the content and users are not guaranteed Looking for ESL work?: Try our EFL / TOEFL / ESL Jobs Section! Roland Hutchinson: 80 - Gandhi's breakfast (anyone know?

I know that 10 in the Navy is sailor's breakfast - a rasher of bacon with an egg, so what could the 8 be?) I'm no bingo maven, but I can at least do this one: With each digit pronounced separately as "eight nought", it's homonymous with "(Gandhi) ate nought (for his breakfast, since he was on a spiritual fast and/or a political hunger strike)". "Nought" is both a name for the digit "0" (which as a speaker of American English I call "zero") and a (mostly regional or dialect) synonym for "nothing" (also spelt "naught" in both meanings, but, I think, especially for the latter). Roland Hutchinson Will play viola da gamba for food. NB mail to my.spamtrap (at) verizon.net is heavily filtered to remove spam. If your message looks like spam I may not see it. ... This thread originates from within 'usenet', and as such the content and users are not guaranteed to have been moderated by our community. Anonymous: 80 - Gandhi's breakfast (anyone know? I know that 10 ...

bacon with an egg, so what could the 8 be?) I'm no bingo maven, but I can at least do this one: With each digit pronounced separately as "eight ... (mostly regional or dialect) synonym for "nothing" (also spelt "naught" in both meanings, but, I think, especially for the latter). Wow! Thanks Roland! "Another one bites the dust" Paulo For Sale: 50 Gandhi books ... This thread originates from within 'usenet', and as such the content and users are not guaranteed to have been moderated by our community. Dr Robin Bignall: I am developing some tasks for my TEFL students that include playing Bingo - also known as Tombola (Royal Navy), ... respective number but these numbers ARE quoted in some sources and I AM trying to compile a fairly comprehensive list.

From childhood I remember: 2 - two little ducks (don't ask me why) 3 - look at me 11 - legs eleven (same origin but with no name) 16 - sweet sixteen 21 - key of the door (age of majority at that time) 66 - clickety-click For such numbers as 22, 33, 44 etc. the caller would shout "all of the threes, 33" etc. Bingo was called "Housey Housey" on the fairgrounds then (1940s and 50s), and a winner would shout "House". wrmst rgrds This thread originates from within 'usenet', and as such the content and users are not guaranteed to have been moderated by our community. Ross Howard: (snip bingo-number list) From childhood I remember: 2 - two little ducks (don't ask me why) (a) No, "two little ducks" denotes 22; (b) the number "2" looks like a ducky, swanny fowl-type thing.

If you look really closely, you'll see that the number "22" contains two of these ducky, swanny fowl-type things, hence the really clever "two little du..." Oh, never mind. 3 - look at me 7 - (something mentioning heaven) 11 - legs eleven (same origin but with no name) For some reason too close to home, perhaps? you forgot the best known of all: 13 - unlucky for some. 16 - sweet sixteen 21 - key of the door (age of majority at that time) That should be "key *to* the door". Ah, there's another one you forgot again, too close to home, perhaps: 47 - AK. 66 - clickety-click For such numbers as 22, 33, 44 etc. the caller would shout "all of the threes, 33" etc. That should be "all the threes" no "of". Nice going, Doc only one incorrect number, one missed-out obvious one and two presposition errors. And it was bang (as in machine-gun fire) on-topic.

For some better-remembered 50s bingo calls, you might try: Now about those machine-gun toting Bostik snorters . . . . Ross Howard ... This thread originates from within 'usenet', and as such the content and users are not guaranteed to have been moderated by our community. Anonymous: From childhood I remember: 2 - two little ducks (don't ask me why) Because the "2" digit looks like a duck, as with the "7" digit which resembles a crutch 27.. Little duck with a crutch, Gateway to heaven 3 - look at me 7 - (something mentioning heaven) 11 - legs eleven (same origin but with no name) 16 - sweet sixteen 21 - key of the door (age of majority at that time) 66 - clickety-click 2.. One little duck, Baby's done it (pooh-faeces), Doctor Who (TVSeries), Me and you 3.. Time for tea, Cup of tea, Dearie me, I'm free, Debbie McGee, Youand me, One little flea 7..

Lucky seven, God's in heaven, One little crutch (appearance) 11.. Legs eleven, Legs - they're lovely, Kelly's legs number eleven,Chicken legs 16.. Sweet sixteen (song title), She's lovely, Never been kissed(hardly likely in this day and age!) 21.. Key of the door, Royal salute (# of guns fired) 66.. Clickety click, All the sixes For such numbers as 22, 33, 44 etc. the caller would shout "all of the threes, 33" etc. Agreed Bingo was called "Housey Housey" on the fairgrounds then (1940s and 50s), and a winner would shout "House". This name apparently was introduced in the British army version of the game. Just as "In the Navy" it was called "Tombola" - a Maltese term. Some interesting ones are: 9 "Doctor's orders" - in WWII doctors put a 9 p.m. curfew on sicknotes. 49 "PC" = Police Constable - PC49: name of a post-war BBC radioseries. Thanks for your input.

If anyone is interested let me know and I'll post the completed document (when ready) to an appropriate binary group. Paulo ... Bingo Number Nicknames ezDraw via secure checkout Transactions are secured with Thawte SSL and uses the Bank of New Zealand Buyline credit card system. Just NZD $79 + GST Order your copy now, for immediate download within 3 minutes. We now also accept Bitcoins during checkout. The exchange rate is converted at the time of purchase. Bingo Number Names Bingo callers often use nicknames to call out numbers instead of the actual number in 90-Ball UK style Bingo/Housie, to spice up the game. Here is a list of all those bingo number names in numerical order: 1 Kelly's Eye Bingo Review: Deposit £5 get £20 free- Hityah.com Kelly's Eye Bingo Review Conclusion Review Summary Fronted by a woman holding a glowing number 1 bingo ball, Kelly's Eye Bingo is a relatively new bingo site launched in November 2015 . The brand claims to be the #1 bingo site now, which remains to be seen. But with fantastic games, huge jackpots, lucrative promotions, and excellent services, they may have a point.

Kelly's Eye Bingo is a Cozy Games bingo and Best Bingo Network site, providing punters with the same high gaming standards of the two companies. The brand is licensed in the Isle of Man and the UK, guaranteeing gamers that they're on a reliable site. Current Promotions Kelly's Eye Bingo has the best bingo bonuses for new players . First, newbies can claim a £5 no deposit bonus after registering and verifying their email. Next, a minimum deposit of £5 will be topped with a 400% first deposit bonus . That's a lot of additional playing funds to spend on the site! Ongoing Promotions There are plenty of promotions for punters to take advantage of at Kelly's Eye Bingo. For a minimum deposit of £10, players will earn a free spin on the bonus wheel for the next 5 days. Just log in daily to win up to £10 in bonus cash. Let's not forget that the operator gives out reload bonuses on all succeeding deposits. With daily, weekly, and monthly specials, players also have many opportunities to win jackpots. And should luck not be on their side, there's also a chance to earn up to 20% in weekly cashback deals.

VIP Loyalty Program Players who deposit £200 or more within a week will find themselves in the Kelly's Eye Bingo VIP club. The more a punter deposits, the higher their rank. As players move up the levels, they'll be entitled to better benefits. Some of the perks include exclusive promotions, higher cashback rewards, special bonuses, and faster withdrawal times. Device Reviews Punters on the go will be happy to know that Kelly's Eye Bingo has a no download mobile bingo site . Players just have to visit the URL on their device, sign up or log in, choose a game, and enjoy! The best part is that the fully optimised mobile bingo site is compatible with practically any system, including iOS, Android, Windows, and Blackberry devices. Cashing In / Out The site works with reputable payment partners and uses data encryption technology to assure that all transactions are kept safe and secure. Players can make bingo deposits using debit cards and credit cards such as Visa, MasterCard, Solo, and Switch. The online bingo site supports Skrill and NETeller as well. Paysafecard bingo deposits are also accepted.

Mobile users will also find it convenient that Kelly's Eye Bingo caters to a pay by mobile phone bill option via Boku. Wagering Requirements Kelly's Eye Bingo wagering requirements must first be met prior to cashing out any funds. It's advised that players read all bonus terms and conditions as requirements may vary depending on the promotion. For deposit-related bonuses, the wagering is set at 4x the deposit and bonus for bingo or 10x for side games. Bonuses categorised as free money are subject to rollovers of 8x on bingo or 20x on side games. Do note that players can opt out of receiving bonuses, at which case the wagering will be 1x of the deposit amount. Games Available Bingo Number Nicknames Bingo Number Nicknames Bingo appears to be such an easy and fun game. The fun part comes when Bingo callers use nicknames to call out numbers instead of the actual number in 90-Ball Bingo Games . All numbers have a nickname or a phrase that is called along with the number to clarify what has been called and to inject an occasional spice into the game. Nicknames fall into two categories: those with rhyme and those with reason.

Here is a list of those most familiar nicknames in numerical order: At the Beginning / Start the Game / Kelly's Eye / On its Own / Bingo Baby One Little Duck / Me and You / Doctor Who Cup of Tea / One Little Flea / My Little Fly / I’m Free / Debbie McGee Knock on the Door / The One Next Door Man Alive One Fat Lady / The Garden Gate Doctor’s Orders Tony’s Den / Cock and Hen Chicken Legs / Legs Eleven / Kelly’s Legs One Dozen / Monkey’s Cousin Unlucky for Some / Devil’s Number / Baker’s Dozen Valentine’s Day Young and Keen / Rugby Team Sweet Sixteen / Never Been Kissed Dancing Queen / Often Been Kissed Coming of Age / Key of the Door Goodbye Teens Key of the Door / Royal Salute Two Little Ducks / Dinky Doo Thee and Me / A Duck and a Flea / Lord’s my Shepherd Two Dozen Half a Crown / Pick and Mix / Bed and Breakfast Gateway to Heaven Dirty Gertie / Flirty Thirty / Burlington Bertie Get Up and Run Dirty Knee / Two Little Fleas / All the Feathers / All the Threes Ask for More More Than Eleven / A Flea in Heaven Christmas Cake Those Wonderful Steps

 / The Famous Steps / All The Steps Naughty Forty / Two Score Time For Fun / Life’s Begun Whinney the Poo / The Famous Street in Manhattan Down on your Knees Droopy Drawers / All the Fours / Open Two Doors Halfway There / Halfway House Bulls eye / Blind 50 / Half a Century / 'Five-oh, Five-oh, It's off to Work we go' Tweak of the Thumb Snakes Alive / All the Fives Was she Worth it Heinz Varieties / All the Beans Make Them Wait Red Raw / The Beatles’ Number Old Age Pension Any Way Up / Either Way Up Three Score and Ten 7 and 6 - Was She Worth it?

/ Trombones Sunset Strip Heaven’s Gate / Heinz Varieties One More Time Eight and Blank / Gandhi’s Breakfast Stop and Run Time For Tea / Ethel’s Ear Seven Dozen Nearly There / All But One / One Away Top of the Shop / Top of the House / As far as we go The top ten most well-known bingo phrases : SWNS The top ten most well-known bingo phrases January 21, 2014 | by SWNS Reporter | 0 Comments Legs 11 is called in bingo because the number resembles a pair of long legs like these Bingo is a game everybody loves – and just about everyone knows its most popular phrases. Whether it is the Queen playing with the Royal family at Sandringham over Christmas, Robbie Williams calling the balls with Gary Barlow and friends, or a group of pensioners visiting the local bingo hall on a Saturday night, they all know they’re legs eleven from a garden gate. The terms have become as well-liked as the game itself. In fact, they’ve worked themselves firmly into the British language. Many use historical references or rhyming slang from the mid-20th century, when bingo really took off, especially in bustling halls around London.

Bingo terminology is witty, fun, cheeky and entertaining. But most importantly, anybody who wants to stay on the ball – whether they play online bingo at Paddy Power at a local venue, should be well-versed in the common phrases used for each number in a game of bingo. Here’s a guide to the most well-known and loved phrases. Legs Eleven Legs eleven is called when the number 11 ball appears. Why? Because a number 11 resembles a pair of long slender legs, of course. Audiences often accompany this number with saucy wolf whistles. Two fat ladies This mischievous label is given to the number 88. Bingo phrases often draw similarities between the shapes of the number and certain images. In this case, two overweight women sitting next to each other. Lucky seven One of the more simple bingo phrases, lucky seven is shouted by the caller when the seven ball drops. Seven is believed to be lucky in all walks of life. Unlucky for some ‘Unlucky for some, it’s number 13’. It’s a phrase that brings joy and heaps of cash to some playing bingo and disappointment to others. Everyone knows 13 is an unlucky number. Or is it?

Clickety click This phrase usually accompanies the number 66. The caller will say ‘clickety click, 66’. It’s origins are unclear, but it has its roots in rhyming slang. Garden gate One bingo number that definitely derives from Cockney rhyming slang is 88. Garden gate rhymes with 88, so it is also used for this in bingo. Rhyming slang originates from east London, and was used as a covert language that the authorities could not understand – but found its way into bingo halls because many people from that time and era played bingo. Kelly’s eye This one isn’t as obvious as others, but it is just as well-known by those who play the game. Kelly’s Eye often refers to the Australian outlaw Ned Kelly, who had only one eye. Another suggestion is that it derived from the military as bingo was the only gambling they were allowed to take part in. Other phrases for number one are ‘At the beginning’, ‘Nelson’s Column’, ‘Buttered scone’ and ‘Little Jimmy’. Knock at the door Knock at the door, number four. A quick and easy piece of rhyming slang, this is used by the caller for number four.

Doctors orders A slightly more obscure historical reference, doctors orders means number nine. This was because during World War II, Number 9 was a laxative handed out by medics. Dirty Gertie This really does give away the age and origins of bingo slang. Not only does this phrase use rhyming slang for 30, it is a reference to a statue called ‘La Délivrance’ of a naked lady called that was installed in north London in 1927 by the French sculptor Émile Oscar Guillaume. h2g2 - Bingo Calling For Beginners - Edited Entry Bingo Calling For Beginners Content from the guide to life, the universe and everything Bingo Calling For Beginners 2 Conversations On the surface, bingo appears to be such a simple game. Everyone knows the basic premise: one person, armed with a set of numbers , calls out randomly selected numerals until a player shouts out that they have filled their ticket. And to the player, this is the case. However, for the caller it is far more complex. This entry hopes to introduce new callers to what is required, help those more experienced to refine their styles and explain some of the less logical number nicknames to players.

Setting the Scene Before you get down to the business of selling tickets and calling the numbers, it is worth a brief introduction. You need to establish how many games you will be playing, whether you will sell tickets before each game or in a 'book' for the whole session 1 , and whether you will be playing for the 'line', 'four corners', or just for the 'house'. In the formal setting of a professional hall, these protocols will already be established and you will probably receive training in their way of doing things. In truth, your audience will dictate how you go about it. For example, you would probably go round and sell the tickets to a small elderly group as it is generally quicker and easier, but in a youth club you'll want them to queue up and calm down. Tips For Calling Don't rush. If you're not used to being in front of a group of people, the tendency is to talk quickly, stutter garbled numbers and quickly develop a dry mouth. Speak as clearly as you can and try to be a little melodic in tone. Having a drink to hand helps too.

Make sure you give the numbers a good shake-up now and then; this, most callers will tell you, is more for effect than for actual randomisation. For some reason, everyone will believe that you are a very fair and trustworthy caller indeed. Whenever you call consecutive numbers, give a slight shake of your head and 'tut' almost inaudibly. Most players will believe that if you call consecutive numbers, it's your fault for not 'mixing them up' enough and will occasionally shout something to this effect at you. This tactic pre-empts the players and will leave them, like you, blaming bad luck or poor equipment. You can avoid most problems by being clear at the start. For example, it is a generally accepted rule that if you do not call 'house' on the number that completes your ticket, you forfeit your prize. In an informal setting, it is important to make this clear as some participants may not have played before. People can get quite nasty and will blame you for 'not explaining that bit'. Occasionally, you might get misprinted tickets with sixteen numbers on instead of fifteen or a number printed twice.

How you handle this is up to you, but again if you explain at the start that it is up to the player to ensure their ticket is valid, you can avoid the problem entirely. Ask them to check that each ticket has fifteen different numbers arranged in three rows of five, and if any are not correct change them before the game starts. This happens more often than one would expect, particularly with cheap books. What Are 'Nicknames'? Many numbers have a 'nickname', a phrase that is called along with the number to clarify what has been called and inject an occasional sense of fun into proceedings. This may be as simple as 'four and nine, forty-nine 2 ' or as obtuse as 'two and six; bed and breakfast , twenty-six'. Broadly speaking, nicknames fall into two categories: those with rhyme and those with reason. The number twenty has two nicknames which illustrate this. It is known as 'one score', as a score is twenty, and as 'getting plenty', because it rhymes with twenty. Which you prefer is down to personal taste, and most callers use a mixture of both.

Many find the rhyming ones more difficult to remember; for example '34 – ask for more' could just as easily be the nickname for 54, but if you know that a bullseye in darts scores fifty then 'it's a bullseye! Number 50' is easy. There are a very few numbers which have both rhyme and reason, a few that raise a smile, and one or two sad lonely numbers that have no nickname at all. Note that many professional halls do not encourage callers to use nicknames. This is because technically until the caller actually says the number itself, players can still claim on the last number. For example, the last number was 33, the caller then says 'all the twos, two little ducks...' but before he can say '22' someone calls 'HOUSE!' It is ambiguous then whether the number being called on is 22 or 33; according to the letter of the law only 33 can be claimed on, but most people will naturally shout as soon as they know they have won. Someone claiming on 22 in this case would not win.

Essential Nicknames The main nicknames you need to remember are the single digits (one to nine, 'on its own'), 'twin' numbers (eg, 44) and the multiples of ten ('blind'). Getting these is half the battle. You will be forgiven for forgetting some obscure rhyming slang for number 43, but every player will know that number one is known as Kelly's Eye and tut every time you forget to say it. Master these before your first calling. On Its Own... Calling these numbers follows the format 'On its own, nickname, number 'x'. These are suggestions of the most common nicknames for the single digit numbers. Kelly's Eye 3 ; Bingo baby; at the beginning. All the... These should be called as 'All the x's, nickname, xx'. 11. Legs eleven. With a crowd with a good sense of humour, 'Kelly's legs' can be used if number one has already been called. 22. Two little ducks (crowd may answer by shouting 'quack, quack'); dinky doo. 33. All the feathers; two little fleas; 'all the trees, Sherwood Forest, 33'. 44.

Droopy drawers. (With a little imagination, it could be the legs of two loose women, one heel flat against the wall.) 55. Snakes alive. 77. Sunset strip (from a late 1950s-early 60s TV show). 88. Two fat ladies. Crowd may answer by shouting 'wobble, wobble'. Blind.... Call the following as 'x-0, nickname, blind x0'. 10. Tony's Den 9 ; Cock and Hen. 20. One score; getting plenty. 30. Dirty Gertie; flirty thirty; Burlington Bertie. 40. Two score. 50. Bullseye; half a century; or 'five-oh, five-oh, it's off to work we go'. 60. Three score; five dozen. 70. Three score and ten. 80. Gandhi 's breakfast 10 . 90. Top of the shop; as far as we go. Miscellaneous nicknames There are many variations on a theme.

Making up your own ryhming slang is considered completely acceptable; and use the duck / flea / crutch / fat lady combinations as much as you like, especially if they happen to rhyme ('Duck and a flea, twenty-three'). However, as noted before, there are some numbers players really like to hear. If you can remember these, it's a bonus. 12. A dozen; monkey's cousin. 13. Unlucky for some; baker's dozen. 14. Valentine's Day (14th February). 15. Rugby team. 16. Sweet sixteen; never been kissed. 17. Dancing queen 11 ; often been kissed. 18. Key of the door; coming of age. 19. Goodbye teens. 21. Key of the door; Royal salute 12 . 23. Lord's My Shepherd 13 . 26. Bed and breakfast 14 ; Half a crown 15 . 39. The famous steps; all the steps 16 . 41. Life's begun. 42. The famous street in Manhattan. 45. Halfway house; halfway there (to 90). 57.

Heinz varieties; all the beans . 59. The Brighton Line 17 64. The Beatles ' number (crowd may sing 'When I'm 64'). 65. Old age pension 18 76. Was she worth it? 19 83. Ethel's Ear 20 89. Nearly there; all but one; one away (from 90). You'll notice that there aren't many nicknames for the higher numbers, and this is where a bit of improvisation comes in handy. If you've had a few nicknameless numbers come out in a row, being able to flip out a 'Stitch in time, seventy-nine' sets you out from the crowd. 1 At least initially, it is far easier to work out the prize money if you do the former. 2 Every number called should have the digits described in this way; twin numbers should be 'all the x's, xx'. 3 Reputedly after Australian gangster Ned Kelly , who is erroneously believed by some to have had only one eye. 4 The shape looks a bit like a swan. 5 Looks a bit like a flea. 6 Guess what? Looks like a crutch.

7 Resembling the two halves of a large lady. Getting the idea? 8 In WW1, the British pill no. 9 was a laxative. To be 'Number Nine' was to be sick. 9 Tony Blair living at 10 Downing Street. The nickname changes with Prime Ministers. 10 Imagine him sitting crosslegged with a big plate in front of him, looking from above. 11 From the Abba song of the same name 12 As in, a 21-gun salute for a Royal birthday or other celebration. 13 From Psalm 23 . 14 Traditionally the cost of a nights' lodgings was 2 shillings sixpence , or two and six. 15 Equivalent to 2'6d. Or two and six. 16 From the 1935 Hitchcock film, itself based on the book by John Buchan . 17 The London -Brighton service was no. 59. 18 'Pension' age in the UK is at the age of 65. 19 The cost of a wedding licence used to be 7 shillings 6 pence. 20 Fat lady beside ear-shaped three.

Question: In the game of Bingo ‘Kelly’s Eye’ is the nickname for which number?
Answer: One