Bingo Lingo: Master All 90 Slang Terms and Their Origins

Bingo, a game that brings people together from all walks of life, is more than just calling out numbers. It's a lively community with its own unique lingo. This post takes you on a journey into the captivating world of Bingo slang, uncovering all 90 terms and their meanings, to add an extra spark of fun to your next Bingo session!

1-10: Getting Started

1. Kelly's Eye: Named after Ned Kelly, a famous Australian outlaw, this refers to his lone surviving eye.
2. One Little Duck: Looking like a number 2, it's as simple as a quack out loud!
3. Cup of Tea: A favourite in many places, the number 3 is a nod to the popular drink.
4. Knock at the Door: Rhymes with four, like a knock to say someone's arrived.
5. Man Alive: Rhyming with five, it's a shout of surprise or excitement.
6. Tom Mix: A rhyme for six, named after a famous silent film cowboy.
7. Lucky Seven: A number widely considered lucky across many cultures.
8. Garden Gate: Rhymes with eight and also a phrase suggesting it's time to hurry.
9. Doctor's Orders: During WWII, number 9 pills were often prescribed as a remedy.
10. Boris's Den: Ten can refer to 10 Downing Street, the official residence of the British Prime Minister.

11-20: The Teens Up

1. Legs Eleven: Visually representing a pair of legs, often called out with a bit of flair.
2. One Dozen: A familiar term for the number twelve.
3. Unlucky for Some: Refers to the common superstition that thirteen is an unlucky number.
4. Valentine's Day: A playful name for the 14th, linked to the romantic holiday.
5. Young and Keen: Fifteen rhymes with keen, suggesting enthusiasm and youth.
6. Sweet Sixteen: A milestone birthday in various cultures, often associated with coming of age.
7. Dancing Queen: A nod to the iconic ABBA song.
8. Coming of Age: In many countries, eighteen signifies reaching adulthood.
9. Goodbye Teens: Nineteen, marking the end of the teenage years.
10. One Score: A 'score' is an older term for twenty.

21-30: A Mix of Meanings

1. Key of the Door: Signifies turning 21, traditionally the age when one gets the 'key' to adulthood.
2. Two Little Ducks: Resembles a pair of ducks, prompting a "quack quack!"
3. Thee and Me: A rhyme for twenty-three.
4. Two Dozen: Simply means twice twelve.
5. Duck and Dive: Rhymes with twenty-five.
6. Pick and Mix: Rhymes with twenty-six.
7. Gateway to Heaven: Rhymes with twenty-seven.
8. In a State: Rhymes with twenty-eight.
9. Rise and Shine: Rhymes with twenty-nine.
10. Dirty Gertie: Often linked to a song from the WWII era.

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!