bingo

Meanings

Noun

• 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.
• A similar game or amusement in which participants tick off themed words, phrases or pictures as these are called out, or as they are mentioned, for example during a speech or performance:
• A win in such a game.
• A play where all seven of a player's letter tiles are played.
• Brandy.

Interjection

• "You've just made my point!" or "My point exactly!"

Adjective

• Just sufficient to return to base (or, alternatively, to divert to an alternative airfield).

Verb

• To play the game of bingo.
• To give the winning cry of "bingo!" in a game.
• To play all of one's seven tiles in one move in the game of Scrabble, earning a score bonus.
• To return to base.

Related

Similar words

• housey-housey, lotto
• house!
• aha!, eureka!, got it!, that's it!, yes!

Origin

• Alternate form of bing, suggesting a ringing sound. Attested since 1925.
• Perhaps related to stingo.