What is the meaning of the phrase?

[sky753]

Hello Everyon,

What is the meaning of "speaking in code" in the following paragraph?


"I don't know how they found Jose guilty. There was no evidence he was speaking in code," she said, referring to FBI wiretap intercepts in which Padilla was overheard talking to co-defendant Adham Amin Hassoun.

Regards

SKY

[Anglika]

Exactly that - using an agreed code to say something so that an illicit listener does not understand the exact meaning.

For instance, it is agreed that the word "cocoa" means bomb, "mug" means the place where the bomb is to be put, "heat it" means set off the bomb:

A: How are you doing, Al?
B: I'm fine. I've put the cocoa into the mug, and will heat it at 7.00 o'clock tomorrow morning.

[sky753]

Originally Posted by Anglika

Exactly that - using an agreed code to say something so that an illicit listener does not understand the exact meaning.

For instance, it is agreed that the word "cocoa" means bomb, "mug" means the place where the bomb is to be put, "heat it" means set off the bomb:

A: How are you doing, Al?
B: I'm fine. I've put the cocoa into the mug, and will heat it at 7.00 o'clock tomorrow morning.

Thanks a million! I have caught the meaning the phrase!
But I have a question here . I have referred to the longman about the meaning of illicit. It means illegal.According to the context, however,it means not involved. I would like to know whether it is one of the meaning in your dialect?

[Anglika]

Really better as "not permitted". Correctly and properly "illegal", but the other sense is increasingly used.

[sky753]

Originally Posted by Anglika

Really better as "not permitted". Correctly and properly "illegal", but the other sense is increasingly used.

Do you mean that there is a tendency that the meaning of not permitted of illicit is increasingly used?

[Anglika]

Yes

[sky753]

Originally Posted by Anglika

Yes

Thanks a lot