Oly Oly Oxen Free

Oly Oly Oxen Free (also spelled "Olly Olly Oxen Free") is a seven-beat tone used as an "all-clear" code by the SPARTAN-IIs. Spartans would either just whistle the tone or would whistle it and shout "Oly Oly Oxen Free" after.Halo: First Strike Page 166 The proper counter-response was, "Oly Oly Oxen Free, All out in the free, We're all free."
==Psychology==
Oly Oly Oxen Free was a secret amongst the SPARTAN-IIs. They, and a select few outsiders knew it. Those outsiders were close to the SPARTAN-II's "family"; such as Dr. Catherine Halsey, Cortana, and Sergeant Johnson. Thus, the signal was extremely important to each Spartan; they would rather die than give up the significance of the tone, which could potentially be used to betray or endanger their teammates. They learned this tune/code from their AI instructor, Déjà, while they were training on Reach.
==Uses==
The term Oly Oly Oxen Free was used on numerous occasions throughout Halo. Some of the times it was used are as follows:
*After the Spartan Team had beaten Tango Company and John-117 had checked to make sure their evacuation point was all clear.
*After the Fall of Reach, Anton-044 used it as an S.O.S. signal over the E-Band.Halo: First Strike page 56
*In order to allow the SPARTAN-IIs to enter CASTLE Base, Kelly-087 used it to let Dr. Halsey know it was them.Halo: First Strike, page 118: "Or maybe you're just not saying anything they want to hear," Kelly said. She whistled a six-note singsong tune.
*During Operation: FIRST STRIKE, Linda-058 used it to let John know where she was so he could find her and pick her up.Halo: First Strike Page 322
*At the end of Operation: FIRST STRIKE, Sergeant Johnson used it to let Blue team know that the was holding station behind a nearby moon.Halo: First Strike, Page 326
*When the rest of Blue Team, minus John-117 arrives on Onyx, Kelly whispers "Olly Olly Oxen Free", over the COM.Halo: Ghosts of Onyx Page 236
*When Dr. Halsey takes Kelly-087 on the Beatrice with her.
*Cortana uses this tone to signal Blue Team to several consoles on Genesis.Halo 5: Guardians - Level: Reunion
==Non-Canon Use==
Marines use it on the Halo 3 level The Ark when firing on the first Covenant encampment, as well as in Crow's Nest, but only if the IWHBYD Skull is activated.Halo 3
==Trivia==
*Dana Awbrey alludes to this phrase by titling a blog post "Oly Oly Axon Free."
*In real life,, Oly Oly Oxen Free was originally used to tell players in a game of hide and seek that the game was over and they could come out of hiding.
*Oly Oly Oxen Free has 7 syllables, which is a 7 reference.
==Sources==
==Related Pages==
*Spartan Language
ja:Oly Oly Oxen Free
Category:Halo: Ghosts of Onyx
Category:Terms and Phrases