CB radio slang and 10-codes: the lingo glossary
The words that filled the airwaves in the 1980s. Some came from American truckers and the film Convoy; others were how we said it on channel 19 in Sheffield.
Entries marked Sheffield are ones I used on the channel myself.
Getting on the channel
- Breaker one-nine
- Asking to break into the conversation on channel 19.
- Fourteen for a copySheffield
- Putting a call out to see who was about and could hear you.
- One-nine for a lady breakerSheffield
- A woman wanting to get on the channel. Everyone made room.
- Got your ears on?
- Are you listening?
- What's your handle?
- What's your CB name?
- Copy / Roger
- Message received.
The 10-codes
- 10-4
- OK, understood.
- 10-9
- Say again.
- 10-20 / What's your 20?Sheffield
- Where are you?
- 10-7
- Going off air.
- 10-8
- Back on air.
- 10-36
- What's the time?
- 10-100
- Nipping to the toilet.
People and places
- Handle
- Your CB name. Mine was Slazenger.
- Rig
- Your radio.
- Base / mobile
- A home station, or one in the car.
- Home 20
- Where you live.
- Eyeball
- Meeting another breaker in person.
- Good buddy
- A fellow breaker.
- Rubber duck
- The lead vehicle in a convoy, from the film.
- Front door / back door
- Ahead of you, or behind you, on the road.
On the road
- Smokey / bears
- The police.
- Plain wrapper
- An unmarked police car.
- Bear in the air
- A police helicopter.
On the air
- Wall to wall and treetop tall
- Coming in loud and clear.
- Bleedover / splatter
- A strong station spilling onto nearby channels.
- Burner / boots
- An illegal power amplifier.
- Skip
- Signals from far away when conditions were right.
- Ratchet jaw
- Someone who wouldn't get off the channel.
Signing off
- 73s
- Best regards.
- 88s
- Love and kisses.
- Keep it between the hedges
- Drive safe.
- Catch you on the flip side
- Talk later.
- 10-10 till we do it again
- Signing off for now.
Remember one that's missing? Every area had its own. For the stories behind these, read my CB memories.