# Why do we say "Roger"?

**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-say-roger/20116
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [May 21, 2000, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-say-roger/20116 "2000-05-21T16:13:35Z")
**Posts on this page:** 5
**Page:** 1

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### Author: ![Piig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/6bbea6/32.png) [@Piig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Piig)
#### Post date: [May 21, 2000, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-say-roger/20116/1 "2000-05-21T16:13:35Z")

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why in all kinds of radio transmissions do we confirm we heard something said by saying “roger”?

From where does this habit originate??

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### Author: ![Ezstrete](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7ea924/32.png) [@Ezstrete](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ezstrete)
#### Post date: [May 21, 2000, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-say-roger/20116/2 "2000-05-21T16:30:10Z")

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Not a habit at all.

“Roger"means” recieved in voice-radio communication.

It was universally selected as less probable to be confused  
with other words which can sound like recieved in unfriendly radio conditions.

Incidentally,one can ‘roger’ a message and one can 'Out’from communication but never does one"Roger and out".

Like the feller sez–it’s one or the other but it ain’t never both of 'em t’gether—nohow!

Out

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### Author: ![funneefarmer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/9fc348/32.png) [@funneefarmer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/funneefarmer)
#### Post date: [May 21, 2000, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-say-roger/20116/3 "2000-05-21T17:00:08Z")

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Check out…  
[SDMB - Who is Roger ?](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=13928)

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### Author: ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)
#### Post date: [May 22, 2000, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-say-roger/20116/4 "2000-05-22T13:21:36Z")

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I’m always amused in the movies or on TV when they say “over and out.” If I’m not mistaken, “over” means “I am keeping the line open for you to reply,” and “out” means “I am shutting the line off.” So “over and out” means, “talk all ya want, " I won’t be listening.”

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### Author: ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)
#### Post date: [May 22, 2000, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-say-roger/20116/5 "2000-05-22T13:46:00Z")

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Huh. So I guess it means the pilot’s slightly confused, and suddenly thinks he’s talking to his wife?