Why do cops say what's your 20?

Asked by: Randall Lueilwitz  |  Last update: February 22, 2025
Score: 4.3/5 (43 votes)

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 does a 20 mean in police code?

Code 20 Officer needs assistance. Code 22 Restricted radio traffic. Code 30 Officer needs HELP - EMERGENCY! Code 33 Mobile emergency - clear this radio channel. Code 43 TAC forces committed.

What does it mean when a cop says what's your 20?

Lorri Freifeld. January 9, 2020. 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 does 20 mean in law enforcement?

10–19 = Return to the police station. 10–20 =Location. 10–21 = Call the station (or a person mentioned in the radio call) 10–23 = I have arrived at the location to which I was dispatched. 10–24 = Complete and back in service.

What does give me 20 mean?

According to wordreference.com, 'Drop and give me twenty' is an imperative, usually said to a soldier by a commanding officer: do twenty push-ups. (But it could be a joke if the speaker is not a commander and the person spoken to is not a soldier.)

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31 related questions found

What does your 10/20 mean?

10-20. Denotes location, as in identifying one's location ("My 20 is on Main Street and First"), asking the receiver what their current location or immediate destination is ("What's your 20?"), or inquiring about the location of a third person ("OK, people, I need a 20 on Little Timmy and fast"). 10-32.

What does "what's your 6" mean?

“Got Your 6” means “we've got your back.” The military saying was coined in World War I by fighter pilots. They were referencing a pilot's rear of the plane as the six o'clock position. It's now a popular term that stands for the loyalty and cooperation found in the military community.

What is 20 in slang?

£20 is sometimes referred to as a "score", although strictly this is not a slang term for money, as 'score' is a normal word for twenty. £20 is sometimes known as a "Bobby" from Bobby Moore (rhymes with score). £25 is known as a "pony".

What are the 10-codes for CB?

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.
  • 10-5: Relay message.
  • 10-6: Busy, stand by.
  • 10-7: Out of service.
  • 10-8: In service.

What does "rubber duck" mean in CB talk?

Rubber Duck: A rubber duck is a trucker, often a rookie, who is still learning the ropes. Bear: Another term for a police officer. Chicken Coop: A weigh station where trucks are required to stop and be weighed. Hammer down: To drive as fast as possible. Out of the Side: To leave the CB channel or sign off.

What is the code 10 100 for the bathroom?

10-100 Need to go to Bathroom. Also, remember that the code 10-4 only means "message received". If you want to say "yes", use "affirmative". For "no", use "negative" or “negatory”.

What does 42 mean in trucking?

42: Means 'yes' or 'okay'. Comedian: The media strip between opposing lanes of traffic.

What's your 20 response?

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.

Does 10/7 mean dead?

Often when an officer retires, a call to dispatch is made. The officer gives a 10-7 code (Out of service) and then a 10-42 code (ending tour of duty).

Why are police called 12?

The origin of calling cops “12” is unclear, but many people believe it stems from police radio codes. The code “10-12” is used to inform officers to be discreet since civilians may be nearby, which was shortened to “12” over time. Alternatively, people may refer to cops as “12” due to the popular TV show Adam-12.

What's your 20 police code?

If you wanted someone's location, the ten code to say that was “ten-twenty”, often asked redundantly as “what's your ten-twenty” or “what's your twenty”. That's where it came from.

What is a 20 something slang?

: a person who is between 20 and 29 years old.

What does 20 stand for?

The spiritual meaning of the number 20 symbolizes the balance of body and the energy of harmony. It brings together the combination of energies of the numbers 2 and 0, which link to partnerships, spiritual pathways, and collective energies.

Why do cops say I got your six?

In law enforcement, “got your six” isn't just a saying — it's a promise. 🤝💙 It means having each other's back, no matter what. This National #LawEnforcementAppreciationDay, Police1 is proud to launch the #GotYourSixList, celebrating 25 advocates who embody that promise.

Why do soldiers say 12 o'clock?

“In the military, they use a clock to inform position. Twelve o'clock is straight above you. Six o'clock is straight behind you and sets up the best strike zone. WWI pilots were the first to say, "I got your six," meaning they've got you covered so the enemy can't come up behind your back and strike.

What does it mean to 6 9 someone?

69 is slang for when two partners arrange their bodies to perform oral sex on one another at the same time in a way said to look like the number 69.

What's your 20 military?

“10-20” is CB code-talk for “location,” and “What's your 20?” means “Where are you?” or “What's your location?”

What does flip your 20 mean?

The phrase “Flip Your 20” comes from the fancy word for perspective- paradigm. Paradigm, Kennedy argued, sounds like “pair of dimes,” aka 20 cents, which is why she calls it “Flip Your 2o.” It is a reminder to flip your switch: to change your mind set to change your life.

What is CB in texting?

This technology, also known as Short Message Service Cell Broadcast (SMS-CB) or simply CB messaging, allows operators to send information simultaneously to all devices within the designated broadcast zone.