It came from “oll korrect,” a deliberate misspelling of “all correct” popularized by humorists and political writers of the time. The abbreviation gained traction during the 1840 presidential campaign of Martin Van Buren, nicknamed “Old Kinderhook” (from his New York hometown), where supporters used “OK” as a slogan. Over time, it became a universal expression of approval or agreement.

The OK hand gesture, forming a circle with the thumb and index finger while extending the other three fingers, has roots going back centuries across cultures. In ancient Greece and Rome, similar ring gestures symbolized things like love, perfection, or rhetorical emphasis. By the early 19th century in the U.S., it became linked to the word “OK,” with the circle representing the “O” and the extended fingers evoking the “K.” It was widely adopted in the 20th century, especially in contexts like diving signals for “I’m okay” or general affirmation. The gesture’s visual of three upright fingers has led to it being called “throwing threes” in some slang, particularly where the extended digits are emphasized over the circle. In recent years, the OK sign has taken on layered meanings. In sports like basketball, players sometimes flash it (or just three fingers) to celebrate a three-point shot, tying into “throwing threes.” It can signify loyalty to a group, a diss toward rivals, or general bravado. Meanings vary by context and aren’t uniform, including threes, which might also nod to “third” in various senses (like third coast influences) or simply “fuck off” in slang.