Bingo Nicknames
Mysterious Bingo Nicknames Revealed
Anyone remotely familiar with bingo as it is traditionally played will be aware of the nicknames given to the numbers, repeated by the caller as they are called out. These nicknames have evolved over the years, to the degree that a bingo caller au fait with the names would be worth his weight in balls. To this day – and even in some games of free online bingo – the nicknames exist as part of the magical lore of the game, bringing all its rich history to the forefront of the minds of the players. If you have ever wondered about some of the more esoteric nicknames used, you need look no further than this very article, revealing the mystery behind the names.
Number 1: Kelly’s Eye
This is a reference to notorious Australian gangster Ned Kelly, but not because he had one eye. Kelly fashioned a famous suit of armour and helmet that rendered him near-bulletproof. The helmet had a single slit across the face so that Kelly could see who was shooting at him – in the shape of a slim 1.
Number 9: Doctor’s Orders
Dating to the Great War, there was a pill that was prescribed by doctors that was labelled “Number 9”. The anecdotal evidence suggests that the pill was used to treat nearly every illness a soldier could have, making it either super-penicillin or a placebo.
Number 17: Over-ripe
It is more commonly called as “Dancing Queen”, in reference to the famous Abba song, but completely dependent on the bingo caller. If he was a cheeky chap, he might well call out “over-ripe” with a nod and a wink to much giggling amongst the naughty audience.
Number 26: Half a Crown
Not one for the youngsters, referring as it does to “two and six” (2’6d) in old money. 26 is also known as “bed and breakfast”, “two and six” being the common price of a night’s lodging.
Number 59: The Brighton Line
Always nice when it rhymes, this call referred to the service number from London to Brighton.
It is less common in the North of England.
Number 76: Seven and Six: Was she worth it?
Commonly thought to refer to the cost of a marriage license (7’6d) in old money, but according to some sources this was also the cost of a meeting with a lady of negotiable affection.
Number 80: Gandhi’s Breakfast
“Gandhi’s breakfast” refers to Gandhi’s famous hunger-strike peace protest in September 1932 (8 – “ate” 0 – “nothing”).
There are always other explanations to each call that float around, helping to add further chapters to the great book of bingo. Recent outrage over a council’s plan to forbid bingo callers from using “Two fat ladies” in fear of offence show just how much bingo fans love their calls, holding them as much a part of the institution itself.
http://www.costabingo.com/news.php?i=online-bingo-players-kick-back-against-political-correctness