housey-housey: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Informal, Colloquial
Quick answer
What does “housey-housey” mean?
A call or cry associated with the game of bingo, used to announce a win or to signify the game itself.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A call or cry associated with the game of bingo, used to announce a win or to signify the game itself.
Sometimes used as a colloquial or jocular name for the game of bingo, particularly in informal British contexts. Can be used to evoke a sense of old-fashioned or traditional bingo.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is almost exclusively British. The game of bingo exists in the US, but the cry 'housey-housey' and its use as a name for the game is not part of American bingo culture.
Connotations
In the UK, it connotes traditional, perhaps working-class social clubs, seaside resorts, or a bygone era. It has a quaint, slightly nostalgic feel.
Frequency
Very low frequency overall. Extremely rare in the US (near zero). In the UK, it is a dated term, recognized by older generations but seldom used actively in contemporary speech outside of deliberate historical reference or humour.
Grammar
How to Use “housey-housey” in a Sentence
[Player] shouts 'Housey-housey!'Let's play a game of housey-housey.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “housey-housey” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- He had that housey-housey call down to a fine art.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Not used, except possibly in historical/sociological studies of leisure.
Everyday
Extremely rare; might be used humorously or nostalgically by older UK speakers.
Technical
Not used.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “housey-housey”
- Using it as a general term for any lottery or raffle.
- Using it in an American context where it is unknown.
- Spelling it as 'housey-house' or 'housie-housie' (though 'housie' is a variant in other dialects).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, it is an old-fashioned, chiefly British name for the game of bingo.
It is very rare in active use. It is mostly used nostalgically or humorously to reference the past.
It's a reduplication of 'house', which in bingo terminology means a full card. The cry announced a complete 'house' or win.
No, it would almost certainly not be understood. Use 'bingo' instead.
A call or cry associated with the game of bingo, used to announce a win or to signify the game itself.
Housey-housey is usually informal, colloquial in register.
Housey-housey: in British English it is pronounced /ˌhaʊzi ˈhaʊzi/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Remember the rhyme: 'Shout it out, loud and prousey, when you win at housey-housey.'
Conceptual Metaphor
GAME IS A COMMUNAL SHOUT (The name embodies the vocal action of declaring victory within the game).
Practice
Quiz
In which country is the term 'housey-housey' primarily recognized?