Bingo Lingo: Popular Bingo Terms & Their Meanings

Okay; here's one for all your online bingo fans reading. We generally do consider slots and casino games a priority here at New Slot Sites, however, there's a distinctive cross over as many online bingo sites offer side games including slots, roulette and blackjack, so you're probably bound to enjoy all sorts of casino games if you enjoy bingo!

Today. it's al about you bingo players. We thought we'd give you a list of modern and up to date bingo lingo terms you need to know; look out for them at your local bingo hall or online when you're chatting to your mates in the online bingo rooms!

When we were writing this article, we were originally going to write a list of all the bingo calls that you hear throughout the United Kingdom. But, let’s be honest, most of us have played a game of bingo in the past and have had those bingo calls drilled into our heads repeatedly.

If we said “Leg’s” right now, you would know exactly the number that would follow it. We wouldn’t really be treading new ground, basically. So, we figured we would do something a little bit different. We would go through the origins of some of your favourite terms. We aren’t going to cover all 90, because we are not an issue of BBC History Magazine, but we will cover some of the ones with more interesting backstories!

Not all of these terms are going to be ones that you will have heard before, culturally there are some differences even across the UK. 

To be honest, most of the bingo lingo terms and just ‘because they rhyme’. Like “Knock at the Door’ and 4. There is no sense in us talking about those!

Kelly’s Eye (1)

As with many of the bingo lingo references on this page, this is military slang. It is assumed that it has its roots in a Valiant comic strip called ‘Kelly’s Eye’ (which makes sense, right?). Why does it go with the number 1? It just rhymes.

Tom Mix (6)

He was a star of several Western films. Of course, selected simply because it rhymes with the number 6.

Doctor’s Orders (9)

Another bit of bingo lingo with its roots in the military. In World War II, you probably never wanted to be given a number 9. It was a laxative, so it meant that you were seriously ‘bunged’ up by all the rations you had been consuming. So, the Doctor’s Orders for constipation was the number 9.

(Name) Den (10)

Number 10 is of course the home to the Prime Minister. Whoever the Prime Minister is at the time will go before the word den. We have no idea what happens in a bingo hall on the day of a general election when we have no Prime Minister. 

The Lawn mower (14)

The UK has given the world a ton of amazing inventions, but there is little that can rival the electric lawnmower (if you exclude the computer, internet, television and telephone). The original lawnmower had a 14-inch blade.

Never Been Kissed (16)

Named after the song “Sweet 16 and Never Been Kissed” by the Blue Mountaineers. Released in 1932. You may not have heard of it. Check it out on Spotify. It is great.

Dancing Queen (17)

You are the Dancing Queen, young and sweet, only seventeen. Dancing Queen, feel the beat from the tambourine. Need we say more on that one?

Coming of Age (18)

18 is the time of your life where you apparently need to take on adult responsibilities, even though you are completely terrified of diving into the world headfirst. At least you can play bingo legal now though, right?

Two Little Ducks (22)

The 2 looks like a duck. Apparently. Just say “quack, quack, quack” when somebody says it. You knew that though, right?

Two and Six (26)

Just a reference to pre-decimalised currency in the UK. Means half a crown.

Duck and a Crutch (27)

One of the ducks is maimed in this one, so the 7 is just his crutch. No idea what happened to the second duck from the 22.

Christmas Cake (38)

Part of Cockney Rhyming slang. Lots of this stuff is part of Cockney Rhyming slang, though.

Steps (39)

Comes from the play of the same name ’39 Steps’. It apparently still shows in London.

Down on your knees (43)

Another military slang term. We assumed that when they were talking about ‘down on your knees’ it was fighting in the trenches, but guess we will never know for sure.

Danny La Rue (52 and 72)

This can be used for two different numbers. Danny La Rue is a famous drag entertainer.

Chicken Vindaloo (52)

Butlins needed a way to sell more Chicken Vindaloo, so they invented a bingo call to go along with it in 2003. At least we heard that is the story. Anyway, this came from Butlins.

Here Comes Herbie (53)

Herbie is a famous car (yeah, we know you know). 53 was his number. Feel free to say ‘beep beep’ whenever this is called. It won’t get annoying.

Shotts Bus (56)
This is the bus that originally ran from Glasgow to Shotts.

Brighton Line (59)

This comes from the ‘Importance of Being Earnest’. The first 2 digits to reach Brighton used to be 59 too. It is now 01, but that doesn’t really work with bingo calling, plus every area basically starts with 01.

Meal for Two (69)

Probably can’t go into too much depth on this one. I am sure you can guess what it means!

Was she worth it (76)

It used to cost 7/6d to get married in the UK. 

Gandhi’s Breakfast (80)

Bit offensive, but refers to Gandhi’s Hunger Strike. What did he eat when he was on a hunger strike? Well, he ‘ate nothing’.

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Go head - these UK bingo sites are where the games are happening right now. And go on; feel free to share our bingo lingo wisdom with your fellow bingo friends!

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