General
roger that
What does roger that mean?
A common, slightly emphatic variant of 'roger' confirming that the specific message just sent was received and understood.
""Hold until I give the signal." "Roger that.""
Origin
Elaboration of the proword 'roger'; ubiquitous in military and popular usage.
Frequently asked questions
What does "roger that" mean?
It confirms that the message just sent was received and understood. The 'that' makes it slightly emphatic, pointing to the specific message being acknowledged.
Does "roger that" mean you'll do it?
Not necessarily. 'Roger' only means the message was received. If you also intend to carry out an instruction, the proper term is 'wilco' (will comply).
Where does "roger" come from?
'Roger' was the old phonetic word for the letter 'R', standing for 'received'. It stuck as the proword for acknowledging a message even after the phonetic alphabet changed.
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