Tic-Tac is the slang and sign language used by bookies to let each other know the current odds at racecourses. If you've ever wondered why John McCririck is flapping his arms like a chicken on Channel 4 Racing, he's actually trying to communicate. Many years ago, bookies at racecourses found they could see each other, but not hear each other across the crowds, so they invented tic-tac sign language.
These days, even on-site bookies are hooked up to Betfair and there isn't really any need for Tic-Tac. However, people like to keep old traditions going and the slang is still widely used - especially by John McCririck!
UK Odds |
Decimal |
Tic-Tac Slang |
UK Odds |
Decimal |
Tic-Tac Slang |
|
1/1 |
2.00 |
Levels, you devils! |
9/2 |
5.50 |
Shoulders |
|
11/10 |
2.10 |
Tips |
5/1 |
6.00 |
Handful or Ching |
|
6/5 |
2.20 |
Sais a Wang |
6/1 |
7.00 |
Xis |
|
5/4 |
2.25 |
Wrist |
7/1 |
8.00 |
Neves |
|
11/8 |
2.38 |
Up the Arm |
8/1 |
9.00 |
TH |
|
6/4 |
2.50 |
Ear'ole |
9/1 |
10.00 |
Enin |
|
7/4 |
2.74 |
Shoulder |
10/1 |
11.00 |
Cockle or Net |
|
15/8 |
2.88 |
Double Tops |
11/1 |
12.00 |
Elef |
|
2/1 |
3.00 |
Bottle |
12/1 |
13.00 |
Net and Bice |
|
9/4 |
3.25 |
Top of the Head |
14/1 |
15.00 |
Net and Roof |
|
5/2 |
3.50 |
Face |
16/1 |
17.00 |
Net and Xis |
|
11/4 |
3.75 |
Elef a Vier |
20/1 |
21.00 |
Double Net |
|
3/1 |
4.00 |
Carpet |
25/1 |
26.00 |
Pony or Macaroni |
|
100/30 |
4.33 |
Burlington Bertie |
33/1 |
34.00 |
Double Carpet |
|
4/0 |
5.00 |
Roof |
100/1 |
101.00 |
Century |
