A 19th-century American newspaper joke that became a gesture
On March 23, 1839, the Boston Morning Post published a joke featuring the phrase "o.k. — oll korrect." At the time, American newspapers had a trend of intentionally misspelling and abbreviating words. For instance, "no go" might be written as "k.g. (know go)." The term "OK" emerged as a result of this linguistic fad, quickly gaining traction within the playful context of newspaper humor.
In the 1840 U.S. presidential election, candidate Martin Van Buren was nicknamed "Old Kinderhook," after his hometown. His supporters formed "OK Clubs," and "OK" quickly became a political slogan. The convergence of this newspaper joke and political campaigning solidified "OK" as a common term in everyday American language, moving it from a fleeting fad to a widely recognized expression.
The hand gesture, formed by making a circle with the thumb and index finger while extending the other three fingers, visually represents both the letters "O" and "K." This sign became standardized in the 1950s among U.S. military personnel and marine divers as a signal for "confirmed" or "all clear." In diving hand signals, a "thumbs-up" means "ascend to the surface," a different command entirely. Consequently, the "OK" sign became the standard for confirming safety and well-being underwater.
It is important to note that the "OK" sign carries different meanings across cultures. In Brazil, Turkey, and parts of the Middle East, it is considered an offensive gesture, often implying the buttocks or the number zero. In France, it can signify "worthless" or "zero." When traveling or interacting on global social media, this single hand sign can convey the exact opposite message intended. It stands as one of the most prominent examples of how the same form can hold vastly different meanings.
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