A-okay

See also: a-okay

English

Alternative forms

Etymology

First attested in 1952 in the US, popularized in the 1960s by John A. Powers as NASA's public affairs officer for Project Mercury: the "voice of Mercury Control". Intensive form of okay, presumably "all [systems] okay".[1]

Pronunciation

Adjective

A-okay (comparative more A-okay, superlative most A-okay)

  1. (colloquial) In perfect order; thoroughly acceptable. [from 1950s]
    Synonym: okay
    • 1952, advertisement by Midvac Steels. "The Golden Age of Advertising - the 50s", p. 57, Ed. Jim Heimann, Taschen 2005.
      A-OK for tomorrow's missile demands.
    • 1970, Mike Brewer and Tom Shipley, Tarkio, "Oh Mommy"
      It says right there in the constitution,
      It's really A-okay to have a revolution,
      When the leaders that you choose
      Really don't fit their shoes.
    • 2013, Kacey Musgraves, My House:
      Any KOA is A-OK as long as I'm with you.

References

  1. ^ Douglas Harper (2001–2026), “A-OK”, in Online Etymology Dictionary.

Anagrams

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