Here are some of the greatest hits we’ve heard (or said!) during stand-up meetings. For the sake of this article, we will be using the Daily Scrum and Daily Standup interchangeably, but we acknowledge that both are not exactly the same thing.

1. “Yesterday, I was in meetings most of the day.”

Translation: “I didn’t get to do much real work.”

Tip: If meetings are eating into productivity consistently, consider if all of them are necessary. Stand-ups are a great place to flag meeting overload.

2. “I’ll pick this up after stand-up.”

Translation: “I haven’t decided what I’ll work on today yet.”

Tip: Encourage teams to come prepared, knowing what’s next based on sprint priorities. This keeps momentum going.

3. “I’m still working on the same task as yesterday.”

Translation: “I might be stuck… but I’m not saying it out loud.”

Tip: A repeating status is a signal — not necessarily a problem, but it’s worth checking if support or pairing would help.

4. “No blockers.”

Translation: “I’m okay… I think?”

Tip: If you’re hearing “no blockers” from everyone every day, it could mean blockers aren’t being surfaced. Retrospectives are a great place to dig deeper.

5. “Let’s take that offline.”

Translation: “We’re going down a rabbit hole. Time to hit pause.”

Tip: Great use of discipline! Daily stand-up is not the place for long problem-solving discussions. Parking lot follow-ups work wonders.

6. “I’m almost done.”

Translation: “I hope to be done soon, but I don’t want to commit to a specific time.”

Tip: It helps to define “done” clearly (yes, that good old Definition of Done!) to reduce ambiguity in updates.

7. “I was pairing with X yesterday.”

Translation: “We’re collaborating. Things are moving well.”

Tip: Celebrate it! Pairing (and mobbing) often lead to faster feedback and higher quality work.

8. “I’ll work on bugs today.”

Translation: “I don’t have any sprint tasks left… or I’m not clear on priorities.”

Tip: Ensure your backlog is well-prioritized and visible. Bug work is important, but should be intentional.

9. “It’s in progress.”

Translation: “Please don’t ask for details…”

Tip: Encourage specifics — what’s the plan to move it forward? What’s the next step? Vague updates lead to vague progress.

10. “I updated the ticket.”

Translation: “I’m doing the minimum status update.”

Tip: Updating Jira is great. But the real goal is communication. Ensure what’s said in stand-up adds value for the team — not just the board.

Daily stand-ups are not about status reporting. They’re about team alignment, accountability, and collaboration. Scrum Bingo is a fun way to reflect — and sometimes laugh — at our routines. But it also reminds us to be intentional with our words, honest with our blockers, and respectful of the team's time.

Tips for Better Stand-Ups (and Less Buzzword Bingo)

• Rotate facilitators – Keeps the format fresh and encourages shared responsibility.
• Use a visual board – Helps everyone stay on the same page and quickly understand progress.
• Timebox updates – Keep it short and relevant. Avoid deep dives.
• Encourage psychological safety – Make it okay to say “I’m stuck” or “I need help.”
• Don’t force it – If your team finds better ways to align daily (chat updates, async check-ins), evolve the format.

Let’s Hear from You

What are your favorite “Scrum Bingo” phrases?

Have you seen any surprising ones that deserve to be added to the board?

What do you do to keep your stand-ups from going stale?

Let’s share some laughs — and learn from each other.