Have you ever heard someone ask, “What's your 20?” The term refers to your location. It comes from “10–20” and is part of the Ten Code used by CB radioers, who borrowed and adapted it from the police and emergency services.
What's your 20? is part of a system of radio codes called 10-codes. They developed in the late 1930s when police squads began using two-way radio to communicate. One was 10-20, meaning “location.” Asking What's your 20? emerged as a way to seek another's whereabouts.
“What's your 20?” is shorthand for 'where are you' or 'what's your location'. It's a phrase adopted from the Trucking and CB Radio community.
CB slang is the distinctive anti-language, argot or cant which developed among users of Citizens Band radio (CB), especially truck drivers in the United States during the 1970s and early 1980s.
We took inspiration from CB Radio slang. In fact, the following is from CBSlang.com: If you hear a truck driver say “10-20” on their CB radio, it's just another way to say “Your current location.”
10-7 Out of Service, Leaving Air (you're going off the air) 10-8 In Service, subject to call (you're back on the air) 10-9 Repeat Message. 10-10 Transmission Completed, Standing By (you'll be listening)
10-30: Does not conform to FCC rules (Do you want a fine?) 10-31: I am not a trucker and am saying 10 followed by a random number. 10-32: I will give you a radio check. 10-33: Emergency traffic (rubberneckers).
Message received; OK; acknowledged
The term "10-4," along with its meaning, is part of the "ten code" terms used in law enforcement, the military, and truck driver communications. "10-4" is used to confirm that certain information has been received and will be taken into account.
"Breaker 1/9" is originally a Citizens' Band radio slang term telling other CB users that you'd like to start a transmission on channel 19, and is the phrase that starts C. W.
What is “Got Your 6″? In the military, “Got your six” means “I've got your back.” The saying originated with World War I fighter pilots referencing a pilot's rear as the six o'clock position. It is now a ubiquitous term in the military that highlights the loyalty and cooperation found in military culture.
10-19 Return/returning to the station. 10-20 Location? 10-21 Telephone:______ 10-21a Advise home that I will return at ______.
The general meaning of the phrase “watch your six” means to watch your back. If you think of a clock face with the 12-position being forward and you are facing forward, the six-position is at your back. Therefore, “your six” is your most vulnerable position.
The Definitive List of Citizens Band Radio or CB 10 Codes, and what they mean. 10-1: Receiving Poorly or I can't hear you. 10-2: Receiving well or I can hear you. 10-3: Stop transmitting. 10-4: Message received.
The “1-9” refers to channel 19 on the CB radio, which is the most popular channel. This phrase of the trucker lingo is something truckers will say before they can address something on the channel 19 radio without interrupting other drivers that are talking.
73 is an old telegraph code that means "best regards". 73, as well as 88 (which means "hugs and kisses") are part of the language of ham radio.
Breaker: This term is used to get the attention of other truckers on the channel. A trucker will say “breaker” followed by their handle to let others know they have something to say. Smokey: This term is used to refer to a police officer.
If you look in Dictionary.com, you will see that the phrase “Roger That” dates back to the days of early radio communications meaning that a message has been received and understood.
10-7 Out of Service, Leaving Air 10-43 Traffic Tie-up at… 10-8 In Service, subject to call 10-44 I have a message for you 10-9 Repeat Message 10-45 All units within range please report 10-10 Transmission Completed, Standing By 10-50 Break Channel 10-11 Talking Too Rapidly 10-60 What is next message number?
10 Meter Radios are not designed to communicate with CB Radios. Unlike a CB Radio, you need to have a license to operate a 10 Meter Radio. The reason for this is because the 10 Meter Radios are allowed to have more wattage/power output than CB Radios.
"Rubber Duck" – The first vehicle in a convoy. "Rubbernecker" – Vehicles that further slow down or impede already congested traffic by rotating their heads 180 degrees to view the accident or traffic incident and not paying attention to the road ahead.
10-4 is a way of saying “message received” in radio communications. It's also used as a way to “you got it.”
This phrase is perhaps the most used trucker quote in all of Hollywood. It is pronounced “breaker one nine” and equates to asking permission to speak on channel 19.