# "I repeat..." **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 13, 2002, 7:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-repeat/98017 "2002-03-13T07:43:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![okenter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a4c791/32.png) [@okenter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/okenter)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2002, 7:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-repeat/98017/1 "2002-03-13T07:43:20Z")
When I was in the service, I was told, and I quote, “NEVER EVER ever ever ever ever say the word ‘repeat’ over the radio.” I wondered why this was. Is it due to it’s similarity to “retreat” or is it some code word for something else. My drill sergeants didn’t know the answer ( and I did many a pushup for revealing them to be less than omnipotent ). If any one knows why this is, I’d appreciate an answer. PS It got to the point that years later, when I was stationed overseas, I was discouraged from saying it on my cell phone in a few certain areas of the base, oddly enough… ---
**Author:** ![kuroashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e9a140/32.png) [@kuroashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kuroashi)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2002, 9:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-repeat/98017/2 "2002-03-13T09:02:37Z")
I have never been in the military, but I will venture a guess. Somebody will come along shortly to say I’m right. 😃 I’m guessing that having to “repeat” information on the radio would give enemy intelligence the opportunity to pick out key information. They may not know what information is vital, but if you say “repeat,” they at least know that the information is coming again, giving them a econd chance to pick it out. I repeat, 🙂 I have never been in the military , or in intelligence, but I’ll put money on it. ---
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2002, 9:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-repeat/98017/3 "2002-03-13T09:54:23Z")
From what I heard, “repeat” in military communication means “shoot at the same target again.” Not the kind of thing you want to say by accident. The correct term is “say again.” A brief search on the web came up with these sites that supports this story, but I’m not sure how authoritative they are: [http://www.hq.wwiionline.com/articles/indirect\_fire.shtml](http://www.hq.wwiionline.com/articles/indirect_fire.shtml) [http://personalpages.tds.net/~kc0gkz/Page\_7.html](http://personalpages.tds.net/~kc0gkz/Page_7.html) [http://www.geocities.com/Hollywood/Set/7906/FAQ.htm](http://www.geocities.com/Hollywood/Set/7906/FAQ.htm) (search for the word “repeat” or “say again” in each page.) ---
**Author:** ![tighthead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/90db22/32.png) [@tighthead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tighthead)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2002, 10:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-repeat/98017/4 "2002-03-13T10:25:14Z")
> [@](#): > > From what I heard, “repeat” in military communication means “shoot at the same target again.” Not the kind of thing you want to say by accident. The correct term is “say again.” I just asked my old man (23 years in the army) and he confirmed this fact - ‘repeat’ is used to tell the artillery to repeat their fire mission. JB ---
**Author:** ![kuroashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e9a140/32.png) [@kuroashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kuroashi)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2002, 10:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-repeat/98017/5 "2002-03-13T10:39:04Z")
[QUOTE] \*Originally posted by kuroashi \* \*\* Somebody will come along shortly to say I’m right. 😃 . \*\*[/QUOTE …or not.;j ---
**Author:** ![femtosecond](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f08c70/32.png) [@femtosecond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/femtosecond)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2002, 10:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-repeat/98017/6 "2002-03-13T10:40:11Z")
[http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=77917](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=77917)