ENGLISH
REFERENCE

bingo

n. · interj. · adj.
US //ˈbɪŋɡoʊ// UK //bˈɪŋɡəʊ// bin·go
  1. 1 the game (n.)
    B1 Intermediate

    a game of chance where players mark off numbers on a card as they are called out.

    a game of chance in which participants match numbers printed in different arrangements on cards with the numbers the game host draws at random.

    Example

    My grandmother goes to the community centre every Tuesday night to play bingo with her friends.

    Example

    The local charity organised a bingo night to raise funds for the new hospital wing, attracting a surprisingly large crowd of competitive players.
  2. 2 success or discovery (interj.)
    B1 Intermediate Informal

    you say this when you find exactly what you need or when you finish a task successfully.

    an exclamation used to express sudden success, the discovery of a sought-after object, or the confirmation of a correct idea.

    Example

    I looked through every drawer and then, bingo, I found my passport.

    Example

    The technician adjusted the frequency dial several times until, bingo, the signal came through clear and undistorted.
  3. 3 low fuel (adj.)
    C2 Proficiency Technical American English Slang Science

    used by pilots to mean they have just enough fuel to return home safely.

    describes a critical fuel state where a craft has only the minimum amount of fuel required to return to base or reach an alternate landing site.

    Example

    The pilot told the tower they were bingo fuel and needed to land immediately.

    Example

    With the mission objectives only partially met, the squadron leader was forced to call bingo fuel and order an immediate return to the carrier.

    Usage

    Usually used as a predicative adjective in radio communications.

    Teacher's tip

    This is highly specialised military and aviation jargon; learners will likely only encounter it in films or technical contexts.
Etymology 1

Alternative form of bing, suggesting a ringing sound. Attested since 1925.

Etymology 2

Perhaps related to stingo.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Related words

Last updated June 20, 2026