What is buzzword bingo?

Bingo can be played in any number of ways. The game can be adapted for not only different play but purposes as well. One type of bingo that many people enjoy playing is buzzword bingo.

Buzzword bingo is a game based upon the original bingo. Before the game, players prepare their bingo cards by adding various buzzwords. During the course of an event, if any of these buzzwords are said, they then can mark them off. Typically, this form of a bingo may occur during a meeting or perhaps a speech. Like traditional bingo, the aim is to mark of a certain number of buzzwords in a particular pattern to obtain a bingo.

In some situations, buzzword bingo is played where the audience believes they will be listening to a speaker who will just give a colourful speech filled with buzzwords rather than an actual knowledge. This is why many business meetings are the setting for games of buzzword bingo. Keep in mind that this game doesn’t occur with the knowledge of the speaker or other one’s supervisor. It takes a great deal of courage on the part of the audience to actually call bingo. In many settings, the players will often use nonverbal communication such as looks and mouthing the word bingo. Another way in which some people report that they have a bingo involves raising their hand to ask a question. In the context of their question or remark, they must incorporate the word, bingo.

The origins of Buzzword Bingo are said to go back to the 1960’s in Brentwood, England. A schoolboy, Peter Calver, is credited with coming up with buzzword bingo to make his Greek classes a bit more interesting. The game has reappeared since then in many areas of pop culture. This would include comics, commercials and politics. For other fun filled bingo versions, check out the bingo games found at meccabingo.com.