We’re all aware of the bingo nicknames, rhymes and phrases that add a little humour to the middle of a game, but does anyone know why they exist? While some are an obvious simile, there are a few slightly less obvious connection thrown in that may make you wonder why. Here’s an explanation of the more prominent ones.
Doctor’s Orders
While many of the phrases are simple rhyme that were created merely for amusement in the 60’s during Bingo’s golden era, there are some that date back much older. In the First World War there was a laxative pill that was commonly handed out amongst British soldiers, and now the satirical side of that has made its way into the bingo caller’s vocabulary.
Kelly’s Eye
This is one from the Sixties, although it reference pop culture at the time. Tim Kelly was a comic book hero who had an amulet names ‘the Eye of Everlasting Life’ which made him invincible so he could fight all the bad guys and the injustice in the world. I’m not sure how he’d face up against Superman these days…
Legs Eleven, Two Little Ducks
These type of phrases take little explaining. Although not rhyming, they are clearly named after the shape of the numbers they represent, except ‘Little duck with a crutch’ with feels tenuous at best.
Tony’s Den
Traditionally named after the current Prime Minister in no10 Downing Street, although it hasn’t been updated into popular bingo for a while, and with the two of them house sharing at the moment, it’s probably for the best. Dave ‘n’ Nick’s den? Maybe not…
PC
Number 49 is referred to as PC after the popular 40s/50s radio programme which was, unsurprisingly, called PC 49.
And the rest…
There are a full ninety number, with names and stories behind each one. Here’s a list of all of them with their names, although it’s worth remembering that lots of these have more than one name that changes depending on where you are in the country. Feel free to comment and add to the list of names if you know one!
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• 1 Kelly’s eye
• 2 One little duck
• 3 You and me
• 4 Knock at the door
• 5 Man alive
• 6 Tom’s tricks
• 7 Lucky seven
• 8 One Fat Lady
• 9 Doctor’s orders
• 10 Tony’s Den
• 11 Legs eleven
• 12 One dozen
• 13 Unlucky for some
• 14 Valentine’s day
• 15 Young and keen
• 16 Sweet sixteen
• 17 Often been kissed
• 18 Key of the door
• 19 Goodbye teens
• 20 Blind 20
• 21 Key of the door
• 22 All the twos
• 23 Thee and me
• 24 Two dozen
• 25 Duck and dive
• 26 Bed and breakfast
• 27 Little duck with a crutch
• 28 In a state
• 29 You’re doing fine
• 30 Blind 30
• 31 Get up and run
• 32 Buckle my Shoe
• 33 Dirty knees
• 34 Ask for more
• 35 Jump and jive
• 36 Three dozen
• 37 A flea in heaven
• 38 Christmas cake
• 39 Those famous steps
• 40 Naughty Forty
• 41 Time for fun
• 42 That famous street in Manhattan
• 43 Down on your knees
• 44 Droopy drawers
• 45 Halfway house
• 46 Up to tricks
• 47 Four and seven
• 48 Four dozen
• 49 PC (Police Constable)
• 50 Bulls eye
• 51 Tweak of the thumb
• 52 Weeks in a year
• 53 Stuck in the tree
• 54 Clean the floor
• 55 Snakes alive
• 56 Was she worth it?
• 57 Heinz varieties
• 58 Make them wait
• 59 Brighton line
• 60 Three score
• 61 Bakers bun
• 62 Tickety boo
• 63 Tickle me
• 64 Red raw
• 65 Old age pension
• 66 Clickety click
• 67 Made in heaven
• 68 Saving grace
• 69 The same both ways
• 70 Three score and ten
• 71 Bang on the drum
• 72 A crutch and a duck
• 73 Crutch and a flea
• 74 Candy store
• 75 Strive and strive
• 76 Trombones
• 77 Sunset strip
• 78 Heaven’s gate
• 79 One more time
• 80 Gandhi’s breakfast
• 81 Fat lady and a little wee
• 82 Fat lady with a duck
• 83 Fat lady with a flea 84 Seven dozen
• 85 Staying alive
• 86 Between the sticks
• 87 Fat lady with a crutch
• 88 Two fat ladies
• 89 Nearly there
• 90 Top of the shop
