History Main / CovertDistressCode

* ''WesternAnimation/TheDickTracyShow'' episode "The Copped Copper Caper" had Tracy and Go Go Gomez at an airport looking for the Brow and Oodles. Brow ambushes Tracy, bounds and gags him and locks him in a closet. Tracy taps an SOS on his wrist radio which Go Go can't decipher but which a security agent could.

* ''WesternAnimation/TheDickTracyShow'' episode "The Copped Copper Caper" had Tracy and Go Go Gomez at an airport looking for the Brow and Oodles. Bbrow ambushes Tracy, bounds and gags him and locks him in a closet. Tracy taps an SOS on his wrist radio which Go Go can't decipher but which a security agent could.

Using such a codeword can make a QuietCryForHelp more subtle and reliable. A CodeEmergency may overlap with this if the code is designed not to alert or alarm others who are not supposed to know. Compare TrustPassword, which is typically used to provide a sense of safety as opposed to warning about danger. Also compare SafeWord for code words often of a more… Freudian nature.

-> ''"Anything goes wrong, call, mention Cheeseburgers, and we'll come running''

This is an important device for any undercover operative (detectives and spies, say), who can't just "call for backup" if they get into trouble because it'll blow their cover (if not their [[BoomHeadshot head]]), but really anyone can arrange a code ahead of time -- you never know when being CrazyPrepared will pay off. It's incredibly useful if you have to issue a QuietCryForHelp.

Mind that this only applies to codes that are agreed upon in advance of their usage - see OutOfCharacterAlert if the speaker has to improvise a distress code on the spot (because if so, even the intended recipient may fail to notice the signal until later).

Using such a codeword can make a QuietCryForHelp more subtle and reliable. A CodeEmergency may overlap with this if the code is designed not to alert or alarm others who are not supposed to know. Compare TrustPassword, which is typically used to provide a sense of safety as opposed to warning about danger. Also compare SafeWord for code words often of a more... Freudian nature.

* In [[Film/OceansEleven Ocean's Twelve]], Tess and Danny Ocean have one in case their mutual enemy Terry Benedict finds them: "There's water in the basement and the pilot light is out."

** A side mission in ''VideoGame/MassEffect2'' has Shepard approached by a guy who turns out to be the cameraman for a reporter who's trying to do an expose on some gangsters. He's learned that the reporter's cover has been blown so he needs to get her out of there by telling her the code. Unfortunately, he's a NonActionGuy and therefor is far too scared to approach the gangsters himself, so he gets Shepard to do it for him. The code is simply the words "terminal" and "eternity" worked into a conversation. It works, and the reporter escapes by claiming she needs to use the bathroom.

-->-- '''Sargeant Roman, Series/{{Castle}}'''

* Flying a national flag upside down is [[UrbanLegend sometimes said to be one of these]], but in fact it's considered an ''Overt'' Distress Code; it's a recognised form of DistressCall for ships at sea with non-functional radios. For flags where it's not immediately obvious they're being flown upside down you're supposed to tie a knot in them.
* Before the Iraq War, a soldier let his family know he was about to go into combat by inserting a phrase about the size of the flies into a message to them- which they had pre-determined before he deployed.

* Hospitals often have a specific phrase that they use when they need security, but don't want a panic, or for a violent person to know that security is on the way - such as "Paging Doctor Silver to (nearby room)".[[/note]]

* British railways, the London Underground and a few other places use the "[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inspector_Sands Inspector Sands announcement]]", whose meaning is now something of an open secret.

* [[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-37855009 In 2016 in the UK]], posters started popping up in venues for people who feel unsafe or threatened while on a date -- instructing them to go the bar and to [[https://www.met.police.uk/AskforAngela "ask for Angela"]], notifying staff and discreetly getting them out of the situation.

* In the ''Series/{{Elementary}}'' episode "Rat Race," Sherlock had been texting Joan in illegible acronyms. When he's kidnapped by the Murderer of the Week, he texts her back, saying he's fine, but in straightforward, grammatically correct English. This tips Joan off that something's not right.

* The cold open of one of the HonorHarrington novels has a scene where a transport is transmitting a code which doesn't mean 'I'm being boarded by pirates', but 'I have been boarded and taken by pirates' and the communications officer notes that he's never seen it used outside of simulations. It turns out the owner of the transport was a bit paranoid and set it up to be used only if its identification was requested by a warship after a pirate attack.

* In ''Film/HalfBaked'', the protagonists show up to a drug deal wearing wires, with instructions to use the code word "abracadabra" to summon the cops if they find themselves in danger. Unfortunately, the cops monitoring the wire get too stoned to respond, leaving Our Heroes awkwardly trying to play the phrase off as hip new slang.

Using such a codeword can make a QuietCryForHelp more subtle and reliable. EmergencyCodes may overlap with this if the code is designed not to alert or alarm others who are not supposed to know. Compare TrustPassword, which is typically used to provide a sense of safety as opposed to warning about danger. Also compare SafeWord for code words often of a more... Freudian nature.

Using such a codeword can make a QuietCryForHelp more subtle and reliable. Compare TrustPassword, which is typically used to provide a sense of safety as opposed to warning about danger. Also compare SafeWord for code words often of a more... Freudian nature.

* ''Francise/WonderWoman'' [[ComicBook/WonderWoman1942 Vol 1]]: Diana and ComicBook/SteveTrevor have developed a series of handy codes and phrases to clue each other in when they've got to give a message saying one thing but the real danger is another. At one point Steve is quite annoyed when Darnell reads a message to Steve from Diana and takes the danger written about within at face value, despite him knowing his agents have such a code, and not only misses the message that Di is captured but also that she was forced to write the letter and the danger is elsewhere. This nearly causes an interplanetary war when the attempted assassination of the Ambassador of Saturn is not prevented until very nearly after the last minute.

* ''ComicBook/WonderWoman1942'': Diana and ComicBook/SteveTrevor have developed a series of handy codes and phrases to clue each other in when they've got to give a message saying one thing but the real danger is another. At one point Steve is quite annoyed when Darnell reads a message to Steve from Diana and takes the danger written about within at face value, despite him knowing his agents have such a code, and not only misses the message that Di is captured but also that she was forced to write the letter and the danger is elsewhere. This nearly causes an interplanetary war when the attempted assassination of the Ambassador of Saturn is not prevented until very nearly after the last minute.

* ''Series/{{Firefly}}'': When Saffron's "husband" Durran discovers her and Mal's plot to steal his Lassiter, she taunts him, saying that if he had any brains he would have called the police the moment she came back unannounced. He replies "Oh, I did.", and shows her his ring, which contains a transmitter that sends a distress signal when pressed. And indeed, on rewatching the scene where he first comes back, you can see him casually press the ring on his finger when he sees Saffron.

-->'''SWAT Officer''':How are you going to tell Gibbs that the kid's mom is dead?
-->'''Dinozzo''': I already did. Special Agent Todd is dead

-->'''Lorne''': "Fluffy. Fluffy the dog. The dog you don't have. The universally recognized code for "I'm being held prisoner. Send help!""

-->'''Doctor:''' I assure you, Brigadier, there's nothing to worry about. Tell Styles that. Tell the Prime Minister. And, Brigadier, be particularly sure to [[UsefulNotes/FranklinDRoosevelt tell it to the Marines]].

* ''Franchise/StarTrek''
** ''Series/StarTrekTheOriginalSeries'' episode "Bread and Circuses". "Condition Green" means that the landing party has been captured, they are being forced under duress to communicate with the ship, and that the ranking officer aboard ship is to take no action at the present time. It does not prevent the ranking officer from preparing to take action later, or to exploit any opportunity to rescue the landing party.
** ''Series/StarTrekTheOriginalSeries'' episode "Day of the Dove". When Captain Kirk and his landing party are captured by Klingons, he pushes an emergency button on his communicator, warning the Enterprise. When Scotty beams them up he materializes only the Enterprise crew, leaving the Klingons suspended in transit. When the Klingons are finally materialized they are easily captured.

* In ''Series/BurnNotice''

* ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer''. In "First Date", Xander text messages Willow a codeword that means either "[[FatalAttractor My date is a demon who's trying to kill me]] - send help!" or "Don't call me because I'm about to score!" Unfortunately as it's been several years since Xander went on a date, Willow has forgotten which one it is. They play the percentages and rescue him. As the demon was an attractive woman who asked Xander on a date, we never discover which code he sent.

** Lampshaded by Lorne himself yelling at them about it when they finally realize he's in trouble.

** In "Warriors Gate", experienced companion Romana does a tongue-in-cheek version where she tells new companion Adric that the signal is her putting her hands up. She is later invited by the villains back to their spaceship; aware it's a trap, she does an elaborate stretching gesture that just happens to involve putting her hands over her head.
** In "Day of the Daleks", the Doctor uses contemporary slang that the soldiers holding him prisoner don't understand, as they've time-travelled from the future.