14 secret code words you’re not meant to know
These phrases are meant to sound like random letters and numbers, but in certain situations they can be signs of a serious emergency. How many have you heard of?
10-33
Chances are, you’ve heard of the police code 10-4, which means “affirmative” or an acknowledgment of a message. But if you hear a police officer say 10-33, there’s a police emergency underway. However, the meaning of various “10 codes” (10-1, 10-2, 10-3, etc.) differ between police departments.
Code 10
This phrase can mean a few different things. Hospitals can use it to signal a serious threat or mass casualties. If a store cashier issues a Code 10 authorisation request while you’re checking out, it means that she’s suspicious of you or your card. She’ll call your credit card company and answer a series of yes/no questions to evaluate the situation and call the authorities if need be. If you’re in a certain department stores, however, Code 10 just means there’s a dry spill in one of the aisles.
Check out these 10 times to never, ever use your credit card for payment.