Attn. Military Types: What's Up With The Phrase "Over And Out"?

arwalden

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Sun Nov-28-04 03:35 PM
Original message

Attn. Military Types: What's Up With The Phrase "Over And Out"?

For walkie-talkie (half-duplex) style voice communication, I always understood that the word "over" was used to indicate "I'm done talking, now it's your turn to talk, go ahead".

I also thought that "out" was used to indicate "this communication is over, transmission ended, I'm hanging up now".

So, if the above two definitions are correct, then it makes no sense to use them together joined by the word "and". That would be the equivalent of saying "I'm done talking, your turn to talk, go ahead, but I'm hanging up now."

Can anyone confirm or explain? Maybe it's just something we see in movies but it's not part of official protocol.

-- Allen

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BoX o BooX

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Sun Nov-28-04 03:37 PM
Response to Original message

1. No one in the know uses the phrase "Over and Out."

You are correct. They are mutually exclusive.

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One_Life_To_Give

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Sun Nov-28-04 03:39 PM
Response to Original message

2. It's improper usage

As you stated the two terms should not be used together. But I guess Hollywood never received their copy of the memo.

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qnr

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Sun Nov-28-04 03:39 PM
Response to Original message

3. One of my pet peeves -- Just something someone started in the

Edited on Sun Nov-28-04 03:43 PM by qnr

movies. I was in communications in the military. It is either "over" or "out" - period.

Edit:

I imagine it probably got started when someone was telling another person to "always end your transmission with 'over' so the other party knows you are finished." Then told them to use "out" when they were signing off. Always would imply that over be used even for the final transmission, so they included both "over" and "out" to play it safe. Someone heard this (or it happened to them) and the rest is history.

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arwalden

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Sun Nov-28-04 04:32 PM
Response to Reply #3

12. Your Theory Of How...

... the misuse of "over-and-out" might have come into being sounds pretty logical.

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HawkerHurricane

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Sun Nov-28-04 03:39 PM
Response to Original message

4. Simple: Hollywood.

You're right, it's either 'Over' (I'm done, waiting for your response) OR 'Out' (I'm done, no response expected).

Hollywood movies made the mistake; Navy Comms instructions is specific about that. "Don't imatate movies, it's either 'over' and you want a answer or 'Out' and your done."

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Droopy

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Sun Nov-28-04 03:39 PM
Response to Original message

5. I drive trucks for a living and we never say that on the c.b.

I've heard drivers use "over" before and I've heard a few cbers use "out" but never "over and out."

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Gryffindor_Bookworm

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Sun Nov-28-04 03:43 PM
Response to Original message

6. This may be a remnant of police radio codes.

When an officer is finished with his current call and is going home, he will use the 10-code for "over" (I'm done with this call) and the 10-code for "out" (I'm out of service, don't give me any more calls, I'm going home.)

There are a lot of people who listen to scanners. Maybe some of them wrote movies? :shrug:

I just know that if anyone knows the 10-codes they will here the combination of over and out toward the end of every shift.

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BoX o BooX

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Sun Nov-28-04 03:47 PM
Response to Reply #6

8. I don't think so, GB.

I learned the 10-codes when I got my CB license (yes, you used to get a license for CBs.) They were also mutually exclusive; you are either throwing the conversation back for a response, or you're terminating the conversation... not both.

No, I don't recall the specific codes, though I am sure they're online... I'm just saying.

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Gryffindor_Bookworm

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Sun Nov-28-04 03:58 PM
Response to Reply #8

9. Nope, sorry.

I have a police radio four feet away from me. My father, brother, and grandfather are all cops.

Last night, I heard my brother finish taking a burglary report toward the end of his shift. He keyed up and said "Echo 42, 10-9 10-6." The dispatcher replied, "Echo 42, 10-4." That was his designator, the 10 code (in our area -- they vary wildly all over the country) for "assignment over" and the 10 code for "out of service, I'm going home."

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Florida_Geek

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Sun Nov-28-04 03:46 PM
Response to Original message

7. I like the for real (hehehe) teletype sign off CUNT

wait for it...

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...

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..

C U Next Time........

Per one time supervisor of Presidential Communications (Air Force type).

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Moonbeam_Starlight

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Sun Nov-28-04 04:03 PM
Response to Original message

10. You are really only supposed to say

"out" or sometimes my husband said they would say "out here." Then the other guy would just respond with "out." Over and out is overkill.

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nadinbrzezinski

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Sun Nov-28-04 04:18 PM
Response to Original message

11. Hollywood

Edited on Sun Nov-28-04 04:19 PM by nadinbrzezinski

The correct use is Over when the conversation is supsed to go on, out when it is over.

If I want someobdy to repeat a message, Repeat message.

Remmeber radio comms are short and sweet... so much of the codes used are done crisply.

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logosoco

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Sun Nov-28-04 04:51 PM
Response to Original message

13. I'm not military...

but i always thought you said "over" when you were done speaking and it was the next persons turn to respond, as in "over to you, i'm done speaking" and when you are finished speaking and are going off the air you said "over and out".
but what do i know?;-)

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