SOS – Meaning, Origin and Usage

The term 'SOS' is one of the less common terms that users might come across on social media websites like TikTok and Instagram. There are a lot of rumors about how the term 'SOS' came to be and what the term could mean when you see it. This post unpacks the origin and meaning of this term.

Meaning

The term 'SOS' is used as a short emergency signal or distress sign to point out that someone might be in immediate danger and needs immediate assistance from others nearby.

'SOS' is not a direct type of acronym as most people believe when they repeat the erroneous fact that the term is short for something. Some of the things that 'SOS' is said to be short for are “Save Our Souls” and “Save Our Ship” although this information is not correct.

The term 'SOS' originates from time on the ocean where it is used as a distress signal to others nearby, or to the coastguard. Sometimes the term can also be used in the military as a call for help.

The term 'SOS' has been used on social media to indicate the immediate danger of some people who were being filmed, which was reported in worldwide news outlets.

Sometimes the term 'SOS' can be used as a humorous tag or meme, when the “emergency” is self-created.

The term 'SOS' is not always a true emergency signal on social media, even though the term is taken seriously when it is reported to any kind of law enforcement. Use of the term in humorous or sarcastic context can sometimes be seen through memes and quick, TikTok content or cartoons.

Accepted usage of 'SOS' to signal an emergency is simply the direct use of the three letters because it is easy to spell, sign or speak even when the user has very little resources available to them at the time.

Example Usage

“Your grandmother is wearing a pink nightgown and we can all see it in this photograph. Dude, that is so inappropriate. #oldpeople #notheather #saveoursouls”

“If you're going to go down to the woods tonight, you're in for a big surprise. #sos #nope”

“We're in trouble and the coastguard isn't picking up our SOS signal. If we don't hear something back in the next five minutes, we're going to have to send out another SOS.”

“Sometimes it can be difficult to get a text message out, but if something happens while you're out in the woods you can just try to send out an SOS signal instead.”

Origin

The term 'SOS' is known as a possible emergency signal on social media, and can sometimes be used as a comment or a tag in a humorous or sarcastic context, although the term has its origins long before the beginning of most social media profiles.

The international emergency signal 'SOS' originated with another term taken from British army forces, which was CQD – a common distress signal.

The term 'SOS' became popular as an emergency call for help after the invention of Morse Code, where the simple three letters 'SOS” can be used to quickly signal others for help when there isn't much time or resources to do this.

The term 'SOS' would quickly be absorbed into social media conversation, although the meaning on social media is not always taken to be serious (although sometimes can be when the context is clear to be a distress signal).

Phrases Similar to SOS

  • CQD
  • CQ

Phrases Opposite to SOS

  • N/a

What is the Correct Saying?

  • SOS
  • sos

Ways People May Say SOS Incorrectly

The term 'SOS' can be used in the wrong way by anyone who does not understand the context or the meaning of the term.

Any 'SOS' signal or tag should be interpreted by the context in which it appears. Some 'SOS' signals have been serious, although the term can also be used as sarcastically or humorously and it is generally obvious to others whenever this is done instead.

Acceptable Ways to Phrase SOS

The correct way to use the term 'SOS' is to use it as a shortened emergency signal, or as an ironic social media tag where its use could be appropriate and the context is clear to others.

Unlike many people believe, the term 'SOS' is derived from Morse Code and is not generally accepted to be short for anything.

 

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