Tic-tac

:This article describes a betting signalling system. For the brand of mints, see Tic Tacs.

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Tic-tac (also tick-tack and non-hyphenated variants) is a traditional method of sign language used by bookmakers to communicate the prices of certain horses. It is still used in on-course betting in the UK. A tic-tac man will usually wear bright white gloves to allow their hand movements to be easily seen.

Related Topics:
Bookmakers - UK - Gloves

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A few simple examples of signals:

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• Odds of 9/4 ("top of the head") - both hands touching the top of the head.
• Odds of 10/1 ("cockle" or "net") - fists together with the right-hand thumb protruding upwards, to resemble the number 10.
• Odds of 33/1 ("double carpet") - arms crossed, hands flat against the chest.

Some of the signals may be called out verbally too. These names have evolved over time in a mixture of Cockney rhyming slang and backslang. For example, 4-1 is known as rouf (four backwards).

Related Topics:
Cockney rhyming slang - Backslang

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Essentially, the bookies use tic-tac as a way of communicating between their staff and ensuring their odds are not vastly different from their competitors, an advantage the punters could otherwise exploit. In particular, if a very large bet is placed with one bookmaker, this may be signalled to the others as a way of lowering the price on all the boards.

Related Topics:
Odds - Punters

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The eccentric British racing pundit John McCririck uses tic-tac as part of his pieces to camera when explaining the odds of the horses for the next race.

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The language is currently dying out, thanks to the use of radio communication by betting companies.

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