We’ve all, at some point in our lives, learned about what a prime number is, but have you ever thought about them when it comes to a game of Bingo?
What is a prime number?
Before we get on to the online Bingo calls, let’s first refresh ourselves about what a prime number is.
A prime number is a whole number that is greater than one, and its factors are one and itself. A factor is a whole number that can be easily divided in half, evenly, into another number.
If a number has more than two factors, more than one and itself, it is known as a composite number.
Fun Fact: The number one is neither a composite nor a prime number!
Bingo Calls
Now we’ve refreshed ourselves on what a prime number is, let’s take a look at the Bingo calls associated with the prime numbers.
2 – One little duck – due to the number looking like a small duck.
3 – Cup of Tea – tea and three rhyme. Plus, we Brits love a good cuppa!
5 – Man Alive – alive and five rhyme.
7 – Lucky Seven – in many cultures, the number seven is considered to be lucky, including in Bingo.
11 – Legs Eleven – due to the number looking like a pair of legs.
13 – Unlucky for Some – the number 13 is considered unlucky for some.
17 – Dancing Queen – referring to the lyrics from the well-known ABBA song Dancing Queen “… young and sweet, only seventeen”
19 – Goodbye Teens – refers to age, with 19 being the last teenage year.
23 – The Lord is my Shepard – refers to the first verse of Psalm 23 of the Old Testament.
29 – Rise and Shine – rhymes with 29.
31 – Get Up and Run – rhymes with 31.
37 – More than 11 – rhymes with 37.
41 – Time for Fun – rhymes with 41.
43 – Down on Your Knees – refers to a phrase used by British soldiers.
47 – Four and Seven – a simple yet effective way to reference 47.
53 – Stuck in a Tree / Here comes Herbie – depending on the caller, will depend on which they call out. ‘Stuck up a Tree’ rhymes with 53, whereas ‘Here comes Herbie’ is a reference to the Walt Disney film Herbie, who was a racing car with the number 53 on the side.
59 – Brighton Line – refers to how many minutes it takes to travel via train from Brighton to London – 59 minutes!
61 – Bakers Bun – rhymes with 61.
67 – Stairway to heaven – rhymes with 67.
71 – Bang on the Drum – rhymes with 71.
73 – Queen bee – rhymes with 73.
79 – One More Time – rhymes with 79.
83 – Time for Tea – a subtle nod to the nation’s favorite drink, whilst also rhyming with 83.
89 – Nearly There – with 89 being the second to the last number of a 90-ball Bingo game, it references that you’re almost at the end.
Now you know the prime numbers of both a 75 and 90 ball game of Bingo; you’ll be able to impress friends and family the next time you play a game with them!
