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General

say again

What does say again mean?

A procedure word meaning "repeat all of your last transmission." When followed by an identifier it requests only the specified portion be repeated; the word 'repeat' is avoided on the radio because it means to re-fire artillery.

""You're broken and unreadable — say again your last, over.""

Origin

Standard radiotelephony procedure word designed to avoid the fire-control meaning of 'repeat'.

Frequently asked questions

What does 'say again' mean on the radio?
It's a request to repeat the last transmission. If followed by an identifier, it asks for only a specific part to be repeated.
Why don't they just say 'repeat' on the radio?
Because 'repeat' is a fire-control command meaning to fire the same artillery mission again. Saying it to ask for a message repeat could trigger another salvo, so 'say again' is used instead.
How do you ask for part of a message again?
You add an identifier, such as 'say again all after...' or 'say again your grid,' to have only that portion repeated.
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Slang definitions: FreeDict original editorial.