Bingo
Pronunciation
- UK IPA: /ˈbɪŋ.ɡəʊ/
- US IPA: /ˈbɪŋ.ɡoʊ/
- Rhymes: -ɪŋɡəʊ
Origin
Alternate form of bing, suggesting a ringing sound. Attested since 1925.
Full definition of bingo
Noun
bingo
(countable and uncountable; plural bingos)- (uncountable) A game of chance for two or more players, who mark off numbers on a grid as they are announced by the caller; the game is won by the first person to call out "bingo!" or "house!" after crossing off all numbers on the grid or in one line of the grid.
- (countable) A win in such a game.There were two bingos in the last game, so the players split the prize money.
- (countable, Scrabble) A play where all seven letter tiles are played.
Synonyms
- (game of chance) housey-housey, lotto
Derived terms
Interjection
- Used by players of bingo to claim a win.
- (informal) Used when finding what one has been looking for or trying to recall.
- (informal) Used to declare "You've just made my point!" or "My point exactly!"
Synonyms
Adjective
- (US, aviation slang, chiefly military) Just sufficient to return to base (or, alternatively, to divert to an alternative airfield). also written Bingo or BINGO
- 1993, Red River Valley Fighter Pilots, page 40:Well, the old pucker factor went up about 75 notches at that point cause that length of time would put my wingman below Bingo fuel, plus the thought of sitting in an orbit several miles West of the Yen Bai ...
- 2012, Larry R Gibson, Recollections of a Marine Attack Pilot, page 54:The first pilot to get down to this bingo fuel state would call, “Banjo 4, bingo fuel,†or whatever.