Where does the expression "that's OK" come from and what did it originally mean?
49782
There have been numerous attempts to explain the emergence of this curious colloquial expression, which seems to have swept into popular use in the US during the mid-19th century. Most of them are undoubtedly pure speculation. It does not seem at all likely, from the linguistic and historical evidence, that it derives from the Scots expression 'och aye', the Greek ola kala ('it is good'), the Choctaw Indian oke or okeh ('it is so'), the French aux Cayes ('from Cayes', a port in Haiti with a reputation for good rum) or au quai ('to the quay', as supposedly used by French-speaking dockers), or the initials of a railway freight agent called Obediah Kelly who is said to have written them on lading documents he had checked.\n\nThe oldest written references to 'OK' result from its adoption as a slogan by the Democratic party during the American Presidential election of 1840. Their candidate, President Martin Van Buren, was nicknamed 'Old Kinderhook' (after his birthplace in New York State), and his supporters formed the 'OK Club'.\n\nThis undoubtedly helped to popularize the term (though it did not get President Van Buren re-elected!). During the late 1830s there had been a brief but widespread craze in the US for humorous misspellings, and the form orl korrekt which was among them could explain the initials 'OK'. Such a theory has been supported by more than one distinguished American scholar, and is given in many dictionaries, including Oxford dictionaries.\n\nThe only other theory with at least a degree of plausibility is that the term originated among Black slaves of West African origin, and represents a word meaning 'all right, yes indeed' in various West African languages. Unfortunately, historical evidence enabling the origin of this expression to be finally and firmly established may be hard to unearth.
419845
The literal meaning is "from faith ,confidence"\nwhich we might translate as "out of faith comes confidence"\nor "out of faith comes trust".\n\nNot sure of the origins. The words could be used with religious sense but in other ways too.
56678
OK \nOK has many meanings, the most common of which is an affimative command with unknown origins.\n\nOK can mean:\n\nThe expression "okay" in the English language and other languages. \nThe U.S. postal abbreviation for the state of Oklahoma \nThe IATA airline designator for Czech Airlines \nAn alternate reference to the international convenience store chain Circle K \nThe International OK Dinghy, a single handed racing dinghy \nOK! magazine, a British celebrity magazine \nΟΛΑ ΚΑΛΑ in Greek language which means everything is in order (OK!). \nSome think that the origin of the word OK comes from the combination of the number 0 and the first letter of the word "Killed", as a shorter way of saying "0 people were killed in the battle", or "0 killed". \nBut the true meaning of the word comes from a army-factory in the US. When the clothes were finished, the boss ( Oscar K***) Signed the clothes if they were good, with the letters OK!
945503
I always thought it meant "Mmmm.....'kay."  Like Hmmm....Okay. Or maybe kinda like what that counselor character on South Park is always saying!
918424
The first recorded use of OK was in the spring of 1839 by the Boston Morning Post:\n\n(23 March) He of the Journal...would have the 'contribution box,' et ceteras, o.k.--all correct--and cause the corks to fly, like sparks, upward.\n\n(26 March) Had the pleasure of taking these 'interesting strangers' by the hand, and wishing them a speedy passage to the Commercial Emporium, They were o.k.\n\n(10 April) It is hardly necessary to say to those who know Mr. Hughes, that his establishment will be found to be 'A. No. One'--that is, O.K.--all correct.\n\nBy July of that year, the term spread south to New York, and quickly gained wide acceptance:\n\n(27 July, Evening Tattler) These 'wise men from the East'...are right...to play at bowls with us as long as we are willing to set ourselves up, like skittles, to be knocked down for their amusement and emolument. OK! all correct!\nThe next year, 1840, New York Democrats formed an organization called the OK Club. The name of the club stood for Old Kinderhook as Martin Van Buren was running for reelection that year. Since the term was in use prior to the formation of the OK Club, it seems likely that the name of the club was due in part due to the phrase, not vice versa. The activities of the OK Club, however, undoubtedly contributed to the popularity of OK even if not providing the origin.\n\nThe variant A-OK first appeared during NASA's Mercury program of the 1960s. It may be a combination of A-One with OK. Tom Wolfe in The Right Stuff, however, claims that it was originally used by Shorty Powers, the "Voice of Mercury Control," in radio transmissions because the "A" sound cut through static better than the "O".\n\n(Sources: Allen Walker Read's American Speech articles; Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd Edition; NASA Lunar Surface Journal)
605721
It is of Spanish origin, and its meaning is "courteous." May also mean "court-dweller."
741742
I think it's a euphemism for "jacksh-t"\nSo now the question is, where did THAT phrase come from?
936384
瑪莉   瑪麗\nBoth are ok.
428148
Such a short word and the source of so much dispute. It is possibly the phrase with more alternative suggested derivations than any other. \n\nThe contenders include: \n\nTerms from various languages that sound similar to 'okay' in English. For example:\n\nfrom the Scots - 'och aye' (yes, indeed)\nfrom Choctaw-Chickasaw, 'okah' (it is indeed)\nfrom Greek, 'ola kala' ( everything is well)\nfrom Finnish, 'oikea' (correct, exact)\nfrom Mandingo, 'O ke', (certainly)\n\n\nA shortened version of 'Oll Korrect', used by President Andrew Jackson when initialing papers \n'Old Kinderhook' - nickname of President Martin van Buren. \n'Aux quais' - the mark put on bales of cotton in Mississippi river ports. \n'0 killed' - the report of the night's death toll during the First World War. \n'Orl Korrect' - military reporting indicating troops were in good order. \netc, etc.
1180280
It comes from the Middle French phrase "s'entrevoir," which means \nto see one another, or to meet.
147934
Simply comes from the military. It means 0 kills, meaning there have been no losses. Then it simply translated into "everything is alright".
1173950
Hello,\n\n...It means According to what right and also good
915899
It's been around since the American revolution. It's the official motto of the state of New Hampshire (USA).\n\nThe phrase comes from General John Stark, New Hampshire's most famous soldier of the American Revolutionary War.\n\nLive free or die: Death is not the worst of evils.
731443
The origin of the ubiquitous psuedo-word "OK" or "okay" has proven to be one of the biggest war grounds in etymology. It is not specifically of English origin, being used all over the world in many different languages. The letters "OK" would be understood by an Englishman or Frenchman alike.\n\nSo what are some of the stories surrounding OK?\n\nThe Greeks had an incantation of "Omega, Khi" with which they drove away fleas. \nThe Finnish language has the word "oikea." \nLiberian English has the term "oke." \nBurmese has "hoakeh." \nThe infamous jokers at the Boston Morning Post claimed, in 1839, OK was short for "ORL KORREKT." \nThe Times, in 1939, claimed it had London Cockney origins, from "Orl Korrec." \nAmerican Indians used the word "okeh" which meant "it is so." The story goes that Andrew Jackson picked up the word during the Battle of New Orleans in 1815. \nSome Latin scholars claim that "Omnis Korecta" is the origin. \nA site called The Straight Dope claims it is convinced of the true etymology. It claims the Bostonian "OLL KORRECT" is the true origin of "OK." Another site, however, claims the American Indian etymology is correct.\n\nThis is one of the finest examples of the entertainment of language. Despite technology, historical documents, and the availability of some of the most learned people in history, we still can't work out the etymology of a simple two syllable utterance! Long may it continue.
1166357
1. It is an abbriviation from the 19th century that was used in some writing, like magazines, meaning 'All Correct,' the joke being that  neither are correct.  Also came to prominence during the Martin Van Buren run for the presidency.\n\n2. to take action, to execute
424161
Politely it means "It is none of your business"\n\nDirectly translated\n- It concernes you wet dirt (shit) - \n\nI think whoever it is is trying to tell you to mind your own business. lol
1130808
Yes, that's where the phrase comes from in the first place