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British bingo fans move to defend slang

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SUDBURY, England, Dec. 28 (UPI) -- British bingo enthusiasts said they are rallying around the game's lingo after a council banned the traditional call of "two fat ladies."

Rob Hutchinson, of onlinebingoclub.co.uk, said he is circulating a petition to save bingo slang after John Sayers, 75, the former mayor of Sudbury, England, was banned by the town's council from using the "two fat ladies" euphemism for the number 88 due to concerns that overweight players could be offended, The Sun reported Monday.

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"The call of 'two fat ladies' in bingo is part of our heritage," said Hutchinson, whose petition has thus far gathered about 3,000 signatures. "What's the alternative -- 'two generously proportioned people of either gender?'"

Chrissie Maher, founder of the Plain English Campaign, agreed with Hutchinson.

"It shouldn't be necessary to mess about with parts of our heritage like bingo slang," Maher said.

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