big 10/4
Who taught: James and Kerry
Truckers' slang
James and I sometimes go to a coffee place, called 61c Cafe, near our company. Their cappuccino is one of my favorites. I would say the best in Pittsburgh. A few days ago, we went to the coffee place and on our way back to the office, James told me one story about how he used one of the truck drivers’ slang in his email. When Kerry sent an email to James, James responded to him simply saying, “10/4.”
Truck drivers in America use CB radios and, when they use this, they use a lot of abbreviated expressions. 10/4 is one of them, meaning, “I got it.” or “Understood.” One good example of conversation that would happen James gave me is as follows.
1. A truck driver says, “Where is your 10/20?”
2. Another drive answers, “I am at Forbes Ave in Pittsburgh.”
3. Then the first driver says, “10/4. I will see you there.”
10/20 means location.
And, James told me that this expression known to almost all of the people in America so that everybody understands it.
So, next time if your wife calls you, trying to say like, “Hey, Honey! Where is your 10/20?” Or, every time she asks you to clean your feet before you go to bed, you can say “10/4!” But, you have to really clean them when you say 10/4. 🙂
There are some other ones you might like or even use later.
1. Big 10/4 : I completely agree.
2. 10/100 : I need to go to restroom to pee.
Oh! a pop quiz for you here! How about 10/200? Here is a hint for you! Read this post, then you would get to know the meaning of it. If you still cannot figure out, leave me a comment! 🙂
There are actually a whole list of these.. they are called 10 code.
Actually truckers have a whole bunch of slang all to themselves. For instance.
“I’ve got a smokey on my back door and an air bear is on the way.”
For the readers,
smokey and bear all mean cop!
And air bear means cop chopper.
Thanks, Brian!
“every time she asks you to clean your feet before you go to bed”
*every* time? You must have some dirty feet.
Also, people say “what’s your 10-20,” not “where is your 10-20.” There’s also a shorter version of just “what’s your 20?”
Haha! When I wrote that example, I knew that someone will say that one to me… 🙂 I am not gonna tell you the truth here! 🙂 And, “What is your 20?” is good to know. I would never be able to understand if I hear the expression from someone else. I would be like, “Is he asking my age or what?”
When using slang, you almost always use contractions whenever possible, so it should really be “What’s your 20” instead of “What is your 20”. If you said, “What is your 20”, people would think you’re square.
Oh Man.. SQUARE… I am not using it. I am hip!
Actually it would be more like this…
“wuz yur 20”
That sounds very tricky to pronounce.
I have never heard 10/20 or 10/100, or anything other than 10/4! I learn something from you every day, Terry!
Thanks! I am glad you are also learning here. But, Wait! James told me people all know these 10 codes. I need to talk to James. 🙂
She does know 10/4! That’s definitely the most common of them all.