What does it mean to say “over and out”?

The phrase “over and out” is often misunderstood within the context of radio communication. In standard radio procedure, "over" is used to signal that the speaker has finished their transmission and is awaiting a response from the other party. On the other hand, "out" indicates that the speaker has finished the communication and does not expect a reply. Since these two terms convey conflicting instructions, using them together—“over and out”—creates confusion and is therefore considered incorrect.

In summary, the correct understanding of the phrase points to its inappropriateness in formal communication protocols, as it merges two contradictory signals. This misalignment makes it essential to use either "over" or "out" depending on the intended communication context.