Facts about Bingo calls for numbers 1 to 10. For obvious reasons, the single digit numbers are often called as "On its own, the number N", but there are many other calls as well.
Bingo calls for the number 1
- On its own, the number 1
- Kelly's Eye. Possibly from military slang referring to Ned Kelly. Possibly from the strip "Kelly's Eye" in the Valiant magazine whose hero Tim Kelly wore a jewel around his neck called the Eye of Zoltec, which was obtained from a Mayan idol, which protected him from all harm, making him invulnerable.
- Buttered scone. Because it nearly rhymes with one. At least it looks like is should do!
- Chesney Hawkes. Famous for the hit song "I and the one and only".
- At the beginning. Because 1 is the first possible number on a bingo card.
Bingo calls for the number 2
- On its own, the number 2
- One little duck. Because the number 2 is shaped like a duck. If you squint!
- Many expressions that rhyme with 2, such as "me and you", "Doctor Who", and "Little Boy Blue", the children's verse.
Bingo calls for the number 3
- On its own, the number 3
- Many expressions that rhyme with 3, such as "you and me", "one little flea", and "Debbie McGee", assistant and wife of magician Paul Daniels.
Bingo calls for the number 4
- On its own, the number 4
- Many expressions that rhyme with 4, such as "knock at the door", "the one next door", and "Bobby Moore", England's world cup winning captain in 1966.
Bingo calls for the number 5
- On its own, the number 5.
- One little snake. Because the number 5 is shaped like a snake.
- Many expressions that rhyme with 5, such as "man alive", and "Jack's alive". No one seems to know which Jack that refers to.
Bingo calls for the number 6
- On its own, the number 6
- Half a dozen. Because a dozen is an English term for 12.
- Many expressions that rhyme with 6, such as "Tom's tricks", "chopsticks", and "Tom Mix", a star of Western films in the silent era.
Bingo calls for the number 7
- On its own, the number 7
- One little crutch. Because the number 7 looks like a crutch. Don't lean too heavily on one though, you might fall over.
- Many expressions that rhyme with 7, such as "lucky seven", "God's in Heaven", and "David Beckham", the footballer and model.
Bingo calls for the number 8
- On its own, the number 8
- One fat lady. A little politically incorrect these days, but still widely used.
- Many expressions that rhyme with 8, such as "garden gate", "she’s always late", and "Golden Gate", the suspension bridge over the Golden Gate strait that links San Francisco to Marin County.
Bingo calls for the number 9
- On its own, the number 9
- Doctor's orders. Apparently number 9 was a laxative pill dispensed by army doctors during the second world war.
Bingo calls for the number 10
- Maggie's den. Because Maggie Thatcher lived at number 10 Downing Street. Also used with the name of the current Prime Minister of the UK.
- Many expressions that rhyme with 10, such as "Uncle Ben", "cock and hen", and "Tony Benn", the Labour politician in the UK.