I was having a discussion the other day with my friend about safe words. She was telling me her safe word was "sandwich," which I thought was hilarious. A British friend of hers chided her choice, saying is someone was playing with her, they would think she was hungry and stop to offer her refreshment. Knowing the British I can see this scenario happening:
A man caning a cute, plump bottom. Suddenly, she screams, "Sandwich!"
The man immediately stops, and says, "Right-o. I could use a spot of tea myself."
Generally, people use "mercy" to signal the stop of play; at a club where it's hard to hear, a hand is raised. Some use green, yellow, and red in accordance with the traffic signal meanings; green, keep going; yellow, slow down, and read, STOP. A playmate of mine would use his first, middle and last names the same way, which I always thought was clever and as he said, "It's something I won't forget."
What is your safe word?