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Usenet Posted 23 years ago
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Bingo number nicknames - looking for the origin of a few - can anyone help?
I am developing some tasks for my TEFL students that include playing Bingo - also known as Tombola (Royal Navy), Housey-Housey (British Army), and Lotto (shop-bought version).
To this end I have been developing a list of "number nicknames" that are used when calling out the numbers during play - e.g. "number eight - garden gate".
There are many different nicknames used for each number - some dating from WWII and even different ones for different branches of the armed forces, and even some modern ones - e.g. "seventy-one" has changed recently from "bang on a drum" to a more modern "J-Lo's bum", in a reference to Jennifer Lopez's most famous asset.
With some of the older ones I am having trouble in tracing the origins, or even checking the accuracy of the purported origin.
I reproduce below some of the doubtful ones and would be grateful if anyone could throw any light upon the matter for me.
Here we go:
1 - Kelly's eye (anyone know the origin? Who was one-eyed Kelly,anyway?)
9 - Doctor's joy (navy term for purgative pill, it appears. Why?)
11 - Kelly's legs (same Kelly as number 1?)
30 - Dirty Gertie (does she exist or is this just rhyme?), because...
30 - Burlington Gertie (also used and is a reference to the ditty"Burlington Gertie from Bow")
42 - Winnie the Pooh (just rhyming?)
50 - Snow White's number (said to be "five-oh, five-oh" - a mutationof "Hi-Ho, Hi-Ho"?)
56 - Was she worth it? (5/6d - WWII going rate for the services of aPompey *** (Portsmouth lady of the night). Can anyone confirm this? - the origin, not the price ;-) See also 76
58 - Choo-choo Thomas (... the Tank Engine? why?)
59 - Brighton line (some say train fare from London to Brighton was5/9d during WWII; others say 59 was the engine number of the first "Brighton Belle"?)
62 - To Waterloo (some say rail fare from Portsmouth to London duringWWII was 6/2d?)
73 - Queen B (just rhyming?)
75 - Big Daddy (why?)
76 - Seven 'n' six - was she worth it? (7/6d. - the price of amarriage licence during WWII - compare with 56 - almost the same)
80 - Gandhi's breakfast (anyone know? I know that 10 in the Navy issailor's breakfast - a rasher of bacon with an egg, so what could the
8 be?)
83 - Ethel's ear, or is it 'ere (why?)
I DO realize that the majority of these nicknames are not the most common, or usual, nickname for the respective number but these numbers ARE quoted in some sources and I AM trying to compile a fairly comprehensive list.
Any help would be appreciated
Many thanks
Paulo
Adjectives, colo(u)rs and numbers spoken here
To this end I have been developing a list of "number nicknames" that are used when calling out the numbers during play - e.g. "number eight - garden gate".
There are many different nicknames used for each number - some dating from WWII and even different ones for different branches of the armed forces, and even some modern ones - e.g. "seventy-one" has changed recently from "bang on a drum" to a more modern "J-Lo's bum", in a reference to Jennifer Lopez's most famous asset.
With some of the older ones I am having trouble in tracing the origins, or even checking the accuracy of the purported origin.
I reproduce below some of the doubtful ones and would be grateful if anyone could throw any light upon the matter for me.
Here we go:
1 - Kelly's eye (anyone know the origin? Who was one-eyed Kelly,anyway?)
9 - Doctor's joy (navy term for purgative pill, it appears. Why?)
11 - Kelly's legs (same Kelly as number 1?)
30 - Dirty Gertie (does she exist or is this just rhyme?), because...
30 - Burlington Gertie (also used and is a reference to the ditty"Burlington Gertie from Bow")
42 - Winnie the Pooh (just rhyming?)
50 - Snow White's number (said to be "five-oh, five-oh" - a mutationof "Hi-Ho, Hi-Ho"?)
56 - Was she worth it? (5/6d - WWII going rate for the services of aPompey *** (Portsmouth lady of the night). Can anyone confirm this? - the origin, not the price ;-) See also 76
58 - Choo-choo Thomas (... the Tank Engine? why?)
59 - Brighton line (some say train fare from London to Brighton was5/9d during WWII; others say 59 was the engine number of the first "Brighton Belle"?)
62 - To Waterloo (some say rail fare from Portsmouth to London duringWWII was 6/2d?)
73 - Queen B (just rhyming?)
75 - Big Daddy (why?)
76 - Seven 'n' six - was she worth it? (7/6d. - the price of amarriage licence during WWII - compare with 56 - almost the same)
80 - Gandhi's breakfast (anyone know? I know that 10 in the Navy issailor's breakfast - a rasher of bacon with an egg, so what could the
8 be?)
83 - Ethel's ear, or is it 'ere (why?)
I DO realize that the majority of these nicknames are not the most common, or usual, nickname for the respective number but these numbers ARE quoted in some sources and I AM trying to compile a fairly comprehensive list.
Any help would be appreciated
Many thanks
Paulo
Adjectives, colo(u)rs and numbers spoken here
Top answer
[nq:1]I am developing some tasks for my TEFL students that include playing Bingo - also known as Tombola (Royal Navy), ... g. S.
- [nq:1]I am developing some tasks for my TEFL students that include playing Bingo - also known as Tombola (Royal Navy), ...
- g.
- S.
- Bingo, 75 is the largest number.
- S.
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36 Answers
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[nq:1]I am developing some tasks for my TEFL students that include playing Bingo - also known as Tombola (Royal Navy), ... of "number nicknames" that are used when calling out the numbers during play - e.g. "number eight - garden gate".[/nq]
[nq:1]75 - Big Daddy (why?)[/nq]
In U.S. Bingo, 75 is the largest number. Thus, "Big Daddy" or "Old Man." Note: In U.S. Bingo, the letter is always ca
[nq:1]75 - Big Daddy (why?)[/nq]
In U.S. Bingo, 75 is the largest number. Thus, "Big Daddy" or "Old Man." Note: In U.S. Bingo, the letter is always ca
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[nq:2]75 - Big Daddy (why?)[/nq]
[nq:1] In U.S. Bingo, 75 is the largest number. Thus, "Big Daddy" or "Old Man." Note: In U.S. Bingo, the letter is always called with the number. So 75 is O-75.[/nq]
Thanks - one solved!
[nq:1]B-12 The Vitamin Number. B-4 And after. G-55 Double nickel. I've forgotten most of the Bingo "number ... I don't know why unless it had something to do with Jack
[nq:1] In U.S. Bingo, 75 is the largest number. Thus, "Big Daddy" or "Old Man." Note: In U.S. Bingo, the letter is always called with the number. So 75 is O-75.[/nq]
Thanks - one solved!
[nq:1]B-12 The Vitamin Number. B-4 And after. G-55 Double nickel. I've forgotten most of the Bingo "number ... I don't know why unless it had something to do with Jack
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[nq:1]80 - Gandhi's breakfast (anyone know? I know that 10 in the Navy is sailor's breakfast - a rasher of bacon with an egg, so what could the 8 be?)[/nq]
I'm no bingo maven, but I can at least do this one:
With each digit pronounced separately as "eight nought", it's homonymous with "(Gandhi) ate nought (for his breakfast, since he was on a spiritual fast and/or a political hunger s
I'm no bingo maven, but I can at least do this one:
With each digit pronounced separately as "eight nought", it's homonymous with "(Gandhi) ate nought (for his breakfast, since he was on a spiritual fast and/or a political hunger s
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[nq:2]80 - Gandhi's breakfast (anyone know? I know that 10 ... bacon with an egg, so what could the 8 be?)[/nq]
[nq:1]I'm no bingo maven, but I can at least do this one: With each digit pronounced separately as "eight ... (mostly regional or dialect) synonym for "nothing" (also spelt "naught" in both meanings, but, I think, especially for the latter).[/nq]
Wow! Thanks Roland!
"Another
[nq:1]I'm no bingo maven, but I can at least do this one: With each digit pronounced separately as "eight ... (mostly regional or dialect) synonym for "nothing" (also spelt "naught" in both meanings, but, I think, especially for the latter).[/nq]
Wow! Thanks Roland!
"Another
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[nq:1]I am developing some tasks for my TEFL students that include playing Bingo - also known as Tombola (Royal Navy), ... respective number but these numbers ARE quoted in some sources and I AM trying to compile a fairly comprehensive list.[/nq]
From childhood I remember:
2 - two little ducks (don't ask me why)
3 - look at me
7 - (something mentioning heaven)
11 - legs el
From childhood I remember:
2 - two little ducks (don't ask me why)
3 - look at me
7 - (something mentioning heaven)
11 - legs el
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(snip bingo-number list)
[nq:1]From childhood I remember: 2 - two little ducks (don't ask me why)[/nq]
(a) No, "two little ducks" denotes 22; (b) the number "2" looks like a ducky, swanny fowl-type thing. If you look really closely, you'll see that the number "22" contains two of these ducky, swanny fowl-type things, hence the really clever "two little du..." Oh, never mind.
[nq:1]3 -
[nq:1]From childhood I remember: 2 - two little ducks (don't ask me why)[/nq]
(a) No, "two little ducks" denotes 22; (b) the number "2" looks like a ducky, swanny fowl-type thing. If you look really closely, you'll see that the number "22" contains two of these ducky, swanny fowl-type things, hence the really clever "two little du..." Oh, never mind.
[nq:1]3 -
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[nq:1]From childhood I remember: 2 - two little ducks (don't ask me why)[/nq]
Because the "2" digit looks like a duck,
as with the "7" digit which resembles a crutch
27.. Little duck with a crutch, Gateway to heaven
[nq:1]3 - look at me 7 - (something mentioning heaven) 11 - legs eleven (same origin but with no name) 16 - sweet sixteen 21 - key of the door (age of majority at that
Because the "2" digit looks like a duck,
as with the "7" digit which resembles a crutch
27.. Little duck with a crutch, Gateway to heaven
[nq:1]3 - look at me 7 - (something mentioning heaven) 11 - legs eleven (same origin but with no name) 16 - sweet sixteen 21 - key of the door (age of majority at that
00
[nq:1]30 - Burlington Gertie (also used and is a reference to the ditty "Burlington Gertie from Bow")[/nq]
Actually Burlington Bertie from Bow, refrain of
a music-hall song in England approx. 1900
(sung by a star transvestite Vesta Tilley?)
also featured in a Fred Astaire movie (Easter
Parade?)
Don Phillipson
Carlsbad Springs (Ottawa, Canada)
Actually Burlington Bertie from Bow, refrain of
a music-hall song in England approx. 1900
(sung by a star transvestite Vesta Tilley?)
also featured in a Fred Astaire movie (Easter
Parade?)
Don Phillipson
Carlsbad Springs (Ottawa, Canada)
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[nq:1](snip bingo-number list)[/nq]
[nq:2]From childhood I remember: 2 - two little ducks (don't ask me why)[/nq]
[nq:1](a) No, "two little ducks" denotes 22; (b) the number "2" looks like a ducky, swanny fowl-type thing. If you ... number "22" contains two of these ducky, swanny fowl-type things, hence the really clever "two little du..." Oh, never mind.[/nq]
In dice games, I've heard
[nq:2]From childhood I remember: 2 - two little ducks (don't ask me why)[/nq]
[nq:1](a) No, "two little ducks" denotes 22; (b) the number "2" looks like a ducky, swanny fowl-type thing. If you ... number "22" contains two of these ducky, swanny fowl-type things, hence the really clever "two little du..." Oh, never mind.[/nq]
In dice games, I've heard
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[nq:2]30 - Burlington Gertie (also used and is a reference to the ditty "Burlington Gertie from Bow")[/nq]
[nq:1]Actually Burlington Bertie from Bow, refrain of a music-hall song in England approx. 1900 (sung by a star transvestite Vesta Tilley?) also featured in a Fred Astaire movie (Easter Parade?)[/nq]
My apologies - I typed incorrectly - I meant to type "Bertie" but I was still thinkin
[nq:1]Actually Burlington Bertie from Bow, refrain of a music-hall song in England approx. 1900 (sung by a star transvestite Vesta Tilley?) also featured in a Fred Astaire movie (Easter Parade?)[/nq]
My apologies - I typed incorrectly - I meant to type "Bertie" but I was still thinkin
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