All 90 Tambola Number Nicknames: The Complete Caller's Reference

Every Tambola number has a nickname. Most hosts know five or six — Kelly's Eye, Lucky Seven, Two Little Ducks, Two Fat Ladies, Top of the Shop. But the full list goes from 1 all the way to 90, with each number having its own story (sometimes more than one). This post is the complete reference. Use it to add personality to your next game.

Where Tambola number nicknames come from

The tradition originates from British Bingo halls in the early 20th century. Callers needed a way to make number-calling theatrical — and rhymes, jokes and visual references stuck. When Bingo evolved into Housie in colonial India, the nicknames came along, and most are still in use at kitty parties and family Tambola nights today. A few got localized (50 became "Half Century" in cricket-loving India instead of the original "Bull's Eye").

The complete 1–90 list

1 to 10

• 1 — Kelly's Eye: Origin disputed; possibly named after Australian outlaw Ned Kelly's helmet eye-slit, or simply because "1" looks like an eye.
• 2 — One Little Duck: The shape of "2" resembles a duck.
• 3 — Cup of Tea: Rhymes with "three".
• 4 — Knock at the Door: Classic rhyming opener.
• 5 — Man Alive: Rhyme; expresses surprise.
• 6 — Half a Dozen / Tom Mix: Tom Mix was a 1920s American Western actor — the rhyme is dated but used.
• 7 — Lucky Seven: The most universally recognized.
• 8 — Garden Gate: Rhymes with "eight".
• 9 — Doctor's Orders: A reference to a WWII laxative pill called "Number 9".
• 10 — Boris's Den / PM's number: 10 Downing Street, the British PM's residence. Updates with whoever is PM.

11 to 20

• 11 — Legs Eleven: Two "1"s look like legs.
• 12 — One Dozen: Self-explanatory.
• 13 — Unlucky for Some: Western superstition.
• 14 — Valentine's Day: Feb 14th reference.
• 15 — Young and Keen: Rhymes; suggests youthfulness.
• 16 — Sweet 16 / Never Been Kissed: American teen culture reference.
• 17 — Dancing Queen: ABBA song — the line "having the time of your life... seventeen".
• 18 — Coming of Age: Legal adult age in many places.
• 19 — Goodbye Teens: Last teenage year.
• 20 — One Score: "Score" = 20 in old English.

21 to 30

• 21 — Key of the Door: Old-fashioned coming-of-age (was 21 historically).
• 22 — Two Little Ducks: Two "2"s look like ducks.
• 23 — Thee and Me / The Lord's My Shepherd: Both are rhyming variants.
• 24 — Two Dozen: Math.
• 25 — Duck and Dive: A 22 (duck) plus a dive into 25.
• 26 — Half a Crown / Pick and Mix: Old British coin worth 2 shillings 6 pence.
• 27 — Gateway to Heaven: Rhyming.
• 28 — Overweight / In a State: Both rhyming.
• 29 — Rise and Shine: Rhymes with twenty-nine.
• 30 — Dirty Thirty / Burlington Bertie: "Burlington Bertie" was a music-hall song.

31 to 40

• 31 — Get Up and Run: Rhyming.
• 32 — Buckle My Shoe: From the nursery rhyme "1, 2, buckle my shoe... 31, 32...".
• 33 — Dirty Knee / All the Threes: Common when all digits match.
• 34 — Ask for More: Rhymes with "four".
• 35 — Jump and Jive: Rhymes.
• 36 — Three Dozen: Math.
• 37 — More than Eleven: Mild rhyme.
• 38 — Christmas Cake: Rhymes with "thirty-eight".
• 39 — Steps: Reference to the 1915 novel "The 39 Steps".
• 40 — Life Begins: "Life begins at 40" — popular saying.

41 to 50

• 41 — Time for Fun: Rhymes.
• 42 — Winnie the Pooh: The Hitchhiker's Guide reference; also "the answer to life".
• 43 — Down on Your Knees: Rhymes.
• 44 — Droopy Drawers: The two "4"s look like drooping pants.
• 45 — Halfway There: Halfway to 90.
• 46 — Up to Tricks: Rhymes.
• 47 — Four and Seven: Just naming the digits.
• 48 — Four Dozen: Math.
• 49 — PC / Rise and Shine: "PC 49" was a 1940s British radio detective show.
• 50 — Half Century / Bull's Eye: Cricket-friendly in India; "Bull's Eye" is from darts.

51 to 60

• 51 — Tweak of the Thumb: Rhymes.
• 52 — Danny La Rue / Pack of Cards: 52 cards in a deck; Danny La Rue was a British drag performer.
• 53 — Stuck in the Tree / Here Comes Herbie: Both rhyming.
• 54 — Clean the Floor: Rhymes.
• 55 — Snakes Alive: The "5"s look like snakes.
• 56 — Shotts Bus: Reference to the No. 56 bus to Shotts (Scottish).
• 57 — Heinz Varieties: "57 Varieties" is the Heinz slogan.
• 58 — Make Them Wait: Rhymes.
• 59 — Brighton Line: The British 5/9 train route.
• 60 — Five Dozen / Grandma's Getting Frisky: Cheeky rhyming option.

61 to 70

• 61 — Bakers Bun: Rhymes.
• 62 — Turn the Screw / Tickety Boo: Tickety-boo = "going well" in British slang.
• 63 — Tickle Me 63: Rhymes.
• 64 — Red Raw / Almost Retired: Old retirement age was 65.
• 65 — Old Age Pension / Stop Work: Traditional British retirement age.
• 66 — Clickety Click: The two "6"s sound like clicks.
• 67 — Made in Heaven / Stairway to Heaven: Both rhyming.
• 68 — Saving Grace / Pick a Mate: Both rhyming.
• 69 — Either Way Up / Meal for Two: The number reads the same upside down.
• 70 — Three Score and Ten: Biblical lifespan reference.

71 to 80

• 71 — Bang on the Drum / Lucky One: Rhymes.
• 72 — Six Dozen / Par for the Course: 72 is par on most golf courses.
• 73 — Queen Bee / Crutch with a Flea: Rhyming.
• 74 — Hit the Floor / Candy Store: Rhymes.
• 75 — Strive and Strive: Rhymes.
• 76 — Trombones / Was She Worth It?: "76 Trombones" from The Music Man.
• 77 — Sunset Strip: 1958 American TV show "77 Sunset Strip".
• 78 — 39 More Steps / Heaven's Gate: Both rhyming.
• 79 — One More Time: Rhymes.
• 80 — Eight and Blank / Gandhi's Breakfast: The "0" + "8" looks like fried eggs.

81 to 90

• 81 — Stop and Run: Rhymes.
• 82 — Straight on Through: Rhymes.
• 83 — Time for Tea: Rhymes.
• 84 — Seven Dozen: Math.
• 85 — Staying Alive: Bee Gees song.
• 86 — Between the Sticks: Goalkeeper reference.
• 87 — Torquay in Devon: Rhymes.
• 88 — Two Fat Ladies: Most famous of all — the "8"s are body shapes.
• 89 — Nearly There: Almost the end.
• 90 — Top of the Shop: Highest number — top of the board.

How to actually use these as a host

Two practical tips:

1. Don't try to use all 90. Pick 15–20 favourites and use those consistently. Mix them with plain number-calls so the pace stays right.
2. Match nicknames to your audience. Family games with elders: stick to the classic rhymes. Kitty parties: use the cheeky ones (Two Fat Ladies, Doctor's Orders). Office events: keep it clean — Clickety Click, Lucky Seven, Top of the Shop.

For more on the calling craft, see our Tambola number calling guide, our full host script and dispute handling guide, and the official rules. Ready to host? Open a free multiplayer room.